OUR RULERS AND OUR RIGHTS: 

OUTLINES 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, 

ITS 

ORIGIN, BRANCHES, DEPARTMENTS, INSTITUTIONS, 
OFFICERS, AND MODES OF OPERATION. 

BY 

y 

ANSON WILLIS. 

FORMERLY JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURT. 



ILLUSTRATED. 

PHILADELPHIA: 

PARMELEE & CO 

1870. 



H 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, br 

ANSON WILLIS, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of 

New York. 



INTRODUCTION. 



There is no sentiment that ever gained more uni- 
versal acceptance among the people of this country, 
than that contained in the following words : " If our 
form of government can be preserved, it must be done 
by the intelligence and virtue of the people." 

Few, if any, have ever gainsay ed this proposition, or 
doubted its truth, yet many have doubted the perma- 
nence of our institutions : and these doubts arise from 
their lack of confidence in the intelligence and recti- 
tude of a majority of the people. 

These fears are not entirely groundless, in view of 
the common rule of judging the future by the past; 
for every observer of the political actions of our peo- 
ple, knows that many things have been done by parties 
and individuals, that demonstrate the lamentable desti- 
tution of one, if not both these elements of safet}-. 
Some have intelligence, but very little virtue — others 
have virtue, but very little intelligence : and some have 
neither. Now when either of these classes, or all of 
3 



IV OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

them combined, bear rule, mischief must follow, and 
a complete overthrow may be the result. 

A general knowledge of the principles and opera- 
tions of our government, is a part — but by no means 
all — of that intelligence which is so universally admit- 
ted to be necessary to the preservation of it. 

But it is no easy task for a young man to gain such 
an understanding of these things as will qualify him 
to act his part well, when he arrives at the age which 
allows him to enter upon his duties as a citizen of the 
republic, to hold — it may be — official positions in it, or 
at least to vote understanclingly for those who shall 
administer its affairs. 

" And it is matter of some surprise that no one has 
taken it in hand, long before this, to write something 
of the nature of a text book, in which these things may 
be found arranged and explained, in so simple and plain 
a form, as to give the reader a general and comprehen- 
sive idea of the structure, institutions and plan of oper- 
ating the government under which he lives. In no 
country is such knowledge of so great importance as 
in ours, where every citizen may make his influence 
felt in the administration of public affairs, and where 
that influence always tells for good or evil. Our edu- 
cation is very deficient if it does not embrace a knowl- 
edge of the scheme of government ; and it seems to us 
that it is as proper a subject for the instruction of the 



INTRODUCTION. V 

school-room as many others which are taught there. 
Bat if this is neglected, certainly the young man 
ought not to be left to pick up this knowledge, here a 
little and there a little, in detached portions, as he 
may chance to find it scattered through books, news- 
papers, public speeches and casual conversations ; yet 
these are the only sources from which nine-tenths of 
the people have gained all they know of the political 
affairs of their own country ; and what is thus gained 
is rarely acquired till middle life, and in a majority of 
cases not until a later period. 

By these reasons we have been prompted to write 
the book before you, in order to place these matters, 
in compact and methodical form, within the reach of 
every one who desires to understand them. We have 
aimed throughout at plainness and perspicuity ; not 
avoiding repetition whenever the subject treated of 
could be made plainer by its use. Statements will be 
found in one connection, and again in another, when- 
ever the fact stated appeared to be especially applica- 
ble to the subject under consideration. 

We think that an attentive perusal of these chapters 
will give the reader a correct idea of the organization 
and mode of operating the United States Government, 
together with an insight into the machinery by which 
it is done. When this is acquired, it becomes an easy 
task to understand the government of the thirty-seven 



VI OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

States which compose one great Confederated Union, 
and to comprehend the fact that every person in the 
United States lives under two separate and distinct 
governments, and is amenable to two different codes 
of laws ; first, that of the State in which he resides, 
and second, that of the United States, commonly 
termed the General Government. Much in both is an- 
alagous, especially the legislative and judicial proceed- 
ings. The wisdom of the framers of our Constitution 
adjusted these imperii in imperio — governments within 
a government, so that all work harmoniously, and with 
very little friction, or conflict of authority. 

We have not treated of the State governments, nor 
could we have done so without going far beyond the 
limits assigned to this work. Each State is noticed, 
however, in some remarks, as to the time of its en- 
trance into the Union, its size, population, circuits and 
districts, as prescribed by the laws of Congress. But 
this is to show their relations to the entire Union, and 
the relative influence and power they have as various 
parts of one great whole. 



CONTENTS. 



Academy, Military 229 

« Naval 232 

Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction 101 

Agriculture, Bureau of 279 

Alabama, State of 310 

Ambassadors and Foreign Ministers 156 

Arkansas, State of 312 

Armories and Arsenals 234 

Army and Navy 235 

Articles of War 241 

Assay Office 223 

Attorney General of the United States 64 

Attorneys, District... 93 

Banks, National 225 

Bonds 183 

Buildings, Public and Commissioner of 270 

Cabinet, The 66 

California, State of 313 

Census 117 

Chaplains 244 

Chronology of the United States 434 

Clerk of the House of Representatives, and Sec'y of the Senate... 105 

Coast Survey 249 

Columbia, District of 305 

Commissioners 290 

Congress 22 

" Acts of 108 

Congressmen 103 

Congressional Districts 104 

Connecticut, State of , 815 

vii 



Vlil CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Constitution, The 16 and 399 

" Amendments to 409 

Consuls 160 

Copyrights 260 

Courts, the United States 77 

Court, the United States Supreme 78 

Courts, the Circuit 83 

" the District 87 

Court of Claims 90 

Custom House and Custom-House Officers 194 

Cutters, Kevenue 217 

Declaration of Independence 395 

Delaware, State of 317 

Duties and Tariffs 211 

Elections 133 

11 Presidential 137 

Electors 154 

Flag of the United States 121 

Florida, State of. 319 

Georgia, State of . 320 

Hospitals and Asylums 265 

Illinois, State of 322 

Impeachment 297 

Internal Kevenue , 191 

Indians 281 

Indian Territory.. 382 

Indiana, State of 324 

Iowa, State of , 325 

Jury, Grand 97 

Kansas, State of....: 327 

Kentucky, State of 328 

Lands, the Public 201 

Land Warrants and Bounty Lands 209 

Laws of the United States 122 



CONTENTS. IX 

PAGE. 

Letters of Marque and Eeprisal 176 

Libraries, Congressional and Law 272 

Light Houses, Buoys and Beacons 251 

Louisiana, State of 330 

Maine, State of. 332 

Marshals, United States 95 

Maryland, State of 333 

Massachusetts, State of. 335 

Mason and Dixson's Line 300 

Michigan, State of. 337 

Minnesota, State of 339 

Mint 219 

Mississippi, State of 340 

Missouri, State of 342 

Missouri Compromise 298 

Naturalization Laws 127 

Neutrality Laws 131 

Nebraska, State of . , 343 

New Hampshire, State of 344 

New Jersey State of 346 

New York, State of 348 

North Carolina, State of. 351 

Nevada, State of 353 

Oaths , 185 

Observatory, the Naval 246 

Ohio, State of 354 

Oregon, State of 356 

Patent Office, Patent-Eights, and Commissioner of Patents 256 

Pennsylvania, State of 357 

Pensions, Pension Office, and Commissioner of Pensions 262 

Passports 286 

Political Divisions 302 

Post-Office Department and Postmaster General 57 

President, The 30 

"• The Yice 35 

Printing Office, The Government 275 

Prisons '278 

Proclamations 293 

Public Debt 506 



X CONTENTS. 

PA6* 

Eatio of Kepresentation Ill 

Register, The Official 274 

Religion 292 

Reports 288 

Revenue « 189 

" Internal 191 

Rhode Island, State of 359 

Rules of the House of Representatives 413 

Seals 180 

Secretary of State, and State Department 38 

" of Treasury, and Treasury Department 43 

" of "War, and "War Department 47 

u of Navy, and Navy Department 51 

11 of the Interior, and Interior Department 54 

Smithsonian Institution 254 

South Carolina, State of 361 

Speaker of the House of Representatives 106 

Suffrage 178 

States 307 

" Names and Mottoes of 376 

" Seceding, Status of 378 

Tennessee, State of. 364 

Territories 380 

Texas, State of 366 

Tonnage 216 

Treaties 163 

" Extradition 172 

Treason 295 

United States, The 11 

Vermont, State of 368 

Virginia, State of 370 

Wars of the United States 384 

West Virginia, State of 373 

Wisconsin, State of. ".....375 



CHAPTER L 
The United States. 

On the fourth day of July, 1776, a number of dele- 
gates from thirteen British Colonies in North America, 
assembled together in Philadelphia, and after some 
deliberation upon the oppression and wrongs which the 
mother country had for many years inflicted, drew up 
and signed a paper, in which they enumerated the 
various acts of the King of England, George the Third, 
by which he and his ministers had deprived the people 
of these Colonies of their just rights, and oppressed 
them by acts of tyranny and injustice. They declared 
that these acts had been continued for several years, 
that they had become intolerable, and that the King 
and his ministers would neither hear their just com- 
plaints, listen to their remonstrances, nor regard their 
petitions for redress ; and that all their acts combined 
constituted a just cause for the Colonies to *ebel 
against the authority of England, and to maintain their 
rights by force of arms, as they found it impossible to 
obtain them in any other way. They also declared that a 
Sovereign who would so rule and govern his subjects was 
utterly unworthy to rule over them, and that they had 
the right to throw off his authority and to establish a 
government for themselves. These declarations they 
printed, and sent forth to the world on the day before 
named, in justification of the accompanying Declara- 
11 



12 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

tion of Independence; after this they positively 
refused any further obedience to him or to the laws of 
England. The 4th of July, 1776, has for this reason 
been styled the birth-day of our nation, and has since 
been celebrated as such on every annual return of it. 
For seven years after this event, the people underwent 
a hard and bloody struggle to maintain the position 
they had taken ; nor was it until the year 1783, that 
our independence was acknowledged by England, 
or that we were recognized by other governments as 
one among the family of nations. Not until 1789, did 
the people of these Colonies, [now States,] organize a 
government, and take rank among the other govern- 
ments of the world, with all the attributes, powers and 
rights of a distinct political power. 

Here are three events : — First, the Declaration of 
Independence ; — Second, the close of the Revolutionary 
war ; and Third, the Inauguration of the United States 
government. 

It is now but ninety years since the first, eighty- 
three since the second, and seventy-seven since the 
third. The longest period is less than a century, and 
is but as an hour in the world's history. 

And now, without tracing the successive steps by 
which this nation has advanced from thirteen feeble 
Colonies to thirty-seven States, [some of which have 
more wealth, population, and power, than the whole 
thirteen had in 1776,] and from less than four, to 
thirty-five millions of people, with equally rapid strides 
in the arts, sciences, education, inventions and general 
progress, no thoughtful mind can refrain from looking 



THE UNITED STATES. 13 

into the causes of such unprecedented advancement. 
A few feeble Colonial subjects, in less than a century, 
becoming one of the great powers of the world, with 
the prospect of attaining the highest place among the 
nations, in much less time than it has taken them to 
gain their present position. 

That we have a very extensive territory is true ; that 
we have a diversified climate, a productive soil, with 
many long and navigable rivers on which to float our 
productions to market, and that we have inexhaustible 
mines of coal and minerals of almost every kind, 
including gold and silver, is true. But we might have 
all these, and still remain an insignificant people 
among the families of the earth, for all these have been 
possessed by nations who have retrograded instead of 
advanced. 

In our case, a wise, just and liberal government has 
been the principal cause of our progress, and our pre- 
sent and prospective greatness. 

~No human government is perfect, neither can exact 
and equal justice be done in every case by human laws. 
But the scope and design of our legislation and juris- 
prudence is to dispense justice to all, to place all on 
an equality before the laws, and to give the same rights 
to the rich and to the poor. No privileged class is 
known to our laws, and the lowest may aspire to the 
highest places of distinction and honor ; many have 
done so, and have reached the most exalted positions. 
The fullest religious liberty is granted to all; every 
man may worship as he pleases, when and where he 
pleases, without molestation or fear. He is not as in 



14 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

many other countries taxed *to support a church estab- 
lished by law. He may pay for religious purposes as 
much or as little as he pleases, and to any church he 
prefers, or he may pay nothing, and no one can call 
him to account or use any compulsion whatever in this 
matter. 

Every citizen has a vote for the choice of his rulers, 
and through his representatives a voice in making the 
laws by which he is governed. 

As to his business or calling, he may do that which 
best suits his interests or his tastes. He may go when 
or where he desires, he may stay in the country or 
leave it without restraint or hindrance ; in short, he 
may do whatsoever seemeth good to him, provided he 
does not infringe on the rights of others. 

To this liberty, to these equal rights, privileges and 
advantages do we attribute our rapid growth and 
power. The advantages and benefits of so wise, so 
liberal and so beneficient a government are not 
unknown to the people of other countries where they 
do not enjoy so much freedom ; and this accounts for 
the wonderful immigration to the United States from 
nearly every country in Europe. This flow has con- 
tinued for more than three quarters of a century, and 
is still unabated. It has added many millions to the 
natural increase of our population, while very few of 
our own people ever leave their own country with the 
hope of bettering their condition, or of finding a gov- 
ernment under which they can enjoy more liberty or 
better protection. To gain a clearer conception of the 
intimate connection between a good government and 



THE UNITED STATES. 15 

the prosperity of the country, let us, for example, place 
Mexico in contrast with the United States. Mexico 
was settled long before the United States, and in cli- 
mate and mineral wealth has the advantage of us; 
yet the ever unsettled condition of its government, 
together with intolerance of any but the Catholic 
religion, has prevented any increase of population or 
any advancement in any thing which gives a nation 
respectability, greatness or power. 

Let us draw another contrast by considering Ireland. 
An oppressive government has diminished the popula- 
tion, prevented any advancement, and impoverished 
the country. "We might draw many such contrasts 
between the United States and other countries in 
Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, which would 
convince any one who has the power to trace causes to 
effects, and effects to causes, that a just and liberal 
government is an essential condition upon which the 
prosperity of any country depends. 

But after all the good we find inhering in our Repub- 
lican institutions, we have to admit that some things 
are wrong; that like all other human institutions, 
errors and imperfections are found in them. Yet 
what friend to humanity would raise an impious hand 
to overthrow that in which so much good is found ? 
Let him rather labor to preserve the good, and to cor- 
rect the remaining evil. Neither our Constitution nor 
our laws are like the laws of the Medes and Persians, 
which change not; but may be altered whenever a 
majority of the people desire it. 

And if our people grow in intelligence, wisdom and 
patriotism, is it not to be hoped that they will preserve 
what is good, correct what is wrong, and thus perfect 
and perpetuate our government until it shall become a 
model worthy of imitation by the people and nations 
of the whole earth ? 



16 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER H. 
The Constitution. 

After the Seven Years' war, spoken of in the fore- 
going chapter, (generally known by the name of the 
Revolutionary war,) was over and peace restored, the 
people found themselves without any government, or 
if the Confederation under which the Colonies had 
managed to act together during the war, might be 
called a government, it was certainly inadequate to the 
wants of a people who had just become independent; 
and who needed a stronger bond of union than that 
which had held them together during the struggle for 
liberty, when a common danger and a common enemy 
served as a bond during their perilous condition. To 
supply this want a convention from all the States was 
called together to draw up a Constitution, which should 
fjrm such a union, and at the same time be a basis 
which would support a well organized government. 
This convention met and performed the task assigned. 
It framed the Constitution of the United States, about 
which we subjoin the following remarks. 

1. The Constitution of the United States was finish- 
ed and signed on the 17th day of September, 1787. 
It was framed by a convention of the greatest and 
wisest men in the nation at that time, or perhaps at any 
time. They were chosen for that express purpose, and 
represented each of the thirteen States excepting Rhode 



THE CONSTITUTION. 17 

Island, which had no representation in the convention, 
and sat several months deliberating on the great work 
before them. George Washington was the president 
of the convention ; and in the Constitution a clause was 
inserted declaring that the ratification of it by nine 
States should be sufficient to establish its authority 
over all, for although made by the men chosen for that 
purpose, it was not considered binding upon the people, 
until it had been sanctioned by three-fourths of the 
States. This was subsequently done, and the work of 
the convention became the charter of our liberties, and 
the great foundation stone of one of the most mag- 
nificent structures ever erected by the genius and wis- 
dom of man. 

2. The ratification of the Constitution by the several 
States necessarily required time. Hence the govern- 
ment established by its provisions did not go into op- 
eration till March, 1789. In the mean time General 
Washington had been chosen the first President of the 
United States, and a Congress had been elected in con- 
formity with the provisions of the new and as yet un- 
tried Constitution. The President was inaugurated, the 
first Congress assembled in the city of New York, and 
the government of the United States was put into oper- 
ation. 

3. But before the first session of Congress closed, it 
was thought by a majority of the body that the Con- 
stitution in the shape in which the convention had left 
it, was defective, and that there should be several addi- 
tions or amendments made to it. In conformity with 
this opinion tcu amendments were proposed and passed 



18 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

in the manner provided in the instrument itself; to wit, 
by a vote of two-thirds of both houses. These ten 
amendments were subsequently ratified by the requisite 
number of States (three-fourths,) and became apart of the 
Constitution. In the same manner the eleventh amend- 
ment was proposed, passed and adopted in 1794, and 
the 12th in 1803. From this last date the Constitution 
remained unchanged until January 31, 1865, when the 
House passed a resolution in favor of another amend- 
ment; the Senate passed the same resolution during the 
previous session. 

4. In order to show more fully how the Constitution 
is amended, and what proceedings are taken in order 
to do it, we here insert the resolution, and the subse- 
quent doings of all the parties who must act upon it 
to consummate the proposed amendments. This 
example will show how all the amendments have been 
made, and how others may hereafter be made. 

THE RESOLUTION. 

5. "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives of the United States of America in Congress 
assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that 
the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures 
of the several States as an amendment to the Consti- 
tution of the United States, which, when ratified by 
three-fourths of said Legislatures,shall be valid to all 
intents and purposes as a part of said Constitution, viz. : 

Article 13. First, neither slavery nor involuntary 
servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the 
party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within 
the United States, or anyplace subject to their juris- 
diction. 

Second. Congress shall have power to enforce this 
article by appropriate legislation. 



THE CONSTITUTION. 19 

This, as numbered, made the thirteenth article of the 
amendments, twelve having been made as before stated. 
[See the Constitution and amendments as inserted in 
the latter part of the book.] 

6. After this resolution had passed both Houses 
of Congress, and after the proposed amendment had 
been ratified by the requisite number of States, the 
Secretary of State, as the laws direct him to do, caused 
the resolution and the amendments to be published in 
all the States and Territories, and declared it to be 
valid as a part of the Constitution of the United States. 

This thirteenth article of the amendments to the 
Constitution as it now stands, is one which has proba- 
bly received more public attention, and caused more 
discussion than any other article in the whole docu- 
ment: because by it slavery in all the dominions of the 
United States has been constitutionally abolished. 

7. We will make one other remark in relation to this 
thirteenth article, to wit: it grew out of the result of the 
war between the North and South. President Lincoln 
had, on Jan. 1, 1863, by virtue of his authority as Com- 
mander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United 
States, issued his proclamation, declaring slavery to be 
abolished in all the States which had seceded from the 
Union, but this did not touch slavery in the slave 
States which had not seceded, viz. : Kentucky, Mary- 
land, Missouri, Delaware, and West •Virginia. More- 
over there were doubts as to the constitutionality of 
Mr. Lincoln's act in this respect. But this amendment 
superseded that question, and made a clean sweep of 
the whole matter, both in the seceded and in the Loyal 
States. 



20 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

8. The framers of the Constitution undoubtedly bor- 
rowed many ideas incorporated therein from the laws 
of England, under which they had formerly lived; 
they constituted Congress with two Houses, the same 
as the English Parliament, the House of Lords answer- 
ing to our Senate, and the House of Commons to our 
House of Representatives. Many other analogies 
between the two governments can be traced. 

9. But while this is true, they as studiously avoided 
every thing in the English laws which they deemed 
inconsistent with the principles of a free Republican 
government. 

In article 3, section 3, we find the following: — 

"No attainder of treason shall work corruption of 
blood or forfeiture, except during the life of the person 
attainted." 

This is precisely the opposite of the English law in 
relation to treason ; for when a man is there guilty of 
treason, his children cannot inherit the father's titles 
or property. The parent being corrupted by treason, 
his children are considered corrupted also ; this is what 
is meant by " corruption of blood " in the language of 
the Constitution. It then declared that no such thing 
should be allowed in the United States : in other 
words, it follows the law of God, which expressly 
declares, " The son shall not bear the iniquity of the 
father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the 
son." "Which do you like best, the English or the 
American law? 

The Constitution of the United States has served in 
some respects as a model for the State Constitutions ; 



THE CONSTITUTION. 21 

and no State would be admitted into the Union, whose 
Constitution contained any thing contrary to that of 
the United States. It extends its authority over every 
State and Territory, restraining them from making a 
Constitution or enacting any laws inconsistent with 
any of its provisions. It is the supreme law of the 
land. It binds the Executive, the Legislative and the 
Judicial branches of the government as much as the 
humblest individual. It should be carefully read and 
understood by every one who lives under it, especially 
by every one who exercises the elective franchise. It 
teaches us our rights, our exalted privileges and our 
duties as citizens of the Republic. 

10. Throughout our work we have so often alluded 
to it and its provisions, that we have thought it advi- 
sable to append the whole document to this work that 
the reader may at any time turn to its pages, and con- 
sult its provisions on any point upon which he may de- 
sire information. 

| Eead, learn and digest its meaning — keeping in mind 
that it is the supreme law of the land. Its provisions 
are binding upon every officer and every citizen ; upon 
Congress, upon every State Legislature, and upon 
every court, from the Supreme Court of the United 
States down to the lowest State tribunal. All are 
bound to act, legislate, and adjudicate in conformity 
with the principles of the Constitution. 



22 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER m. 
Congress. 

1. The Legislative branch of our government is styled 
Congress ; in that of England it is denominated Par- 
liament ; and in that of France, the Corps Legislatif. 
Our Constitution places the power of enacting laws in 
Congress ; no other branch of the government can do 
it. It is emphatically a representative body. Its mem- 
bers represent the people, and are supposed to do just 
what the entire mass of the people would do if it were 
practicable for them to assemble in one great body, 
and there to discussj and then pass the laws by which 
they are willing to be governed. 

2. It consists of two parts, or Houses, as these parts 
are called; the Senate and House of Representatives.* 
Both assemble at the same time, in Washington, on 
the first Monday of December in each year, for the 
transaction of business. The meeting at this time is 
called the regular session — regular, to distinguish it 
from extra sessions, which the President may call if he 
deems it necessary. This division of the National 
Legislature into two branches, was undoubtedly bor- 
rowed from the English government; for the law- 

* The Legislatures of all the States and Territories are formed 
after the model of Congress ; that is, all have a Senate and a lower 
House, called in some States by one name, and in others by another, 
but all meaning the lower branch of the legislative body. 



CONGRESS. 23 

making power in England is divided into two branches; 
the House of Lords, answering to our Senate, and the 
House of Commons, quite analagous to our House of 
Representatives. Indeed it was quite natural for the 
framers of our government to imitate that of England. 
Anterior to the Revolution which separated us from 
England, our fathers had lived under its institutions 
and laws, many of which were good, and were subse- 
quently incorporated with the new fabric. "Whatever 
was incompatible with a Republican form of govern- 
ment, and that equality of rights which they deter- 
mined to bestow upon every citizen, was rejected. 

THE SENATE. 

3. This branch of the National Legislature is consti- 
tuted very differently from the House of Representa- 
tives. It is composed of two members from each State, 
without regard to the size or population thereof. New 
York, now the most populous State in the Union, has but 
two Senators in Congress, while the least populous State 
has the same number. They are not elected like the 
members of the lower House, by the people, but by 
the Legislatures of the respective States which they 
represent. They are also elected for a longer term than 
the members of the House of Representatives ; a Sen- 
ator is chosen for six years, while a Representative in 
the other House is elected for only two. 

4. The word Senate is derived from the Latin word 
senatus, which signifies old ; and older men are gener- 
ally selected for the Senate than for the House of Rep- 
resentatives. Indeed the Constitution declares that a 
Senator shall be thirty years of age at the time of his 



24 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

election, and that he must have been a citizen of the 
United States for nine years ; whereas a member of the 
House is eligible at the age of twenty-five, if he has 
been a citizen seven years. 

5. The Senate, like the House of Lords in England, 
is often styled the upper House ; while the House of 
Representatives, for the sake of brevity, is generally 
styled "the House." The Senate is considered the 
higher and more dignified of the two, because men of 
age, talent, wisdom and experience are generally se- 
lected for this exalted position. Again, the Senate has 
powers which the House does not possess. When act- 
ing in their legislative capacity, both have equal powers, 
but the Senate, in connection with the President, has 
the power to ratify treaties. It alone confirms or rejects 
the President's nominations to offices, and also acts as a 
high court to try cases of impeachment. These impor- 
tant duties and prerogatives belong exclusively to the 
Senate without the concurrence of the House. All 
bills, (the draft of all laws when presented to a legisla- 
tive body for its approval or disapproval, are called 
bills, excepting those for raising revenue,) may originate 
either in the Senate or the House ; yet much the larger 
number of bills do originate in the House, because it 
has about three times the number of members which 
the Senate has, and because the members of the House 
are more immediate representatives of the people than 
the Senators. A greater number of the people know 
them, and usually send their petitions and make their 
wants known to them — and from these wants of the 
people, laws originate. 



CONGRESS. 



25 



6. When the Senate convenes for the purpose of con- 
sidering the nominations made by the President for the 
various offices to which he has the right of appointment 
by and with their consent, it is called an executive ses- 
sion. A vote of approval by a majority, gives the con- 
sent of this body ; not so, however, when they vote 
upon the ratification of a treaty ; for in this case the 
Constitution requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds 
of all present. A two-thirds vote is also necessary to 
give a judgment in case of the impeachment of any 
officer of the government who may be arraigned before 
them for trial. 

The Vice President is the President of the Senate ; 
but in case of a vacancy in this office, it then chooses a 
President from its own members. We next come to the 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

7. This is often styled "the lower House." It has 
equal power with the Senate in the enactment of all laws ; 
for no bill can become a law unless it receives a major- 
ity of the votes of both Houses, and in one particular 
it has a power which the Senate does not possess : it 
has the sole power of impeachment. We have stated 
that the Senate has the power to try impeachments, but 
this it never does until the House has first impeached 
some officer of the government for an alleged crime, 
after which the Senate resolving itself into a court, 
tries the accused party, and determines his guilt or in- 
nocence. The part which the House takes in cases of 
impeachment is very analagous to the action of a grand 
jury, which does not try the accused party, but only 
says after examining the charges, upon what evidence 



26 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

it has, that lie or she ought to be tried in a court of 
law — so with the House. It declares that the accused 
party should have a trial before the Senate. This de- 
cision of the House is denominated an impeachment. 

8. The members of the Senate, as above stated, are 
elected by the Legislatures of the respective States 
which they represent ; but the members of the House 
are elected by the people, by popular vote, as it is com- 
monly said — for any body in any State may vote for a 
member of the House of Representatives who has the 
right to vote at all. In the two chapters on Congress- 
men and Congressional Districts, more may be seen 
on the subject of electing members to the lower House. 
After a bill has passed one House, it must be sent to 
the other, where it is referred to a committee, reported, 
debated, and finally voted upon exactly as in the other 
House. 

9. But bills for the purpose of raising revenue must 
originate in the House of Representatives, never in the 
Senate, although these bills, like all others, go to the 
Senate for its concurrence, where they may be amended 
by adding to or striking out such parts as are not ap- 
proved. IsTo money can be drawn out of the Treasury 
of the United States for any purpose whatever, unless 
authorized and appropriated by an act of Congress. 

10. This is the order, and these the forms through 
which every bill must pass before it becomes a law, and 
they show the care taken to prevent bad laws from 
being enacted, and the wisdom of the framers of the 
Constitution, in dividing the legislative power of the 
government into two branches, to check any hasty and 



CONGRESS. 27 

incori siderate legislation which might be pushed through 
one branch, by the cooler and more deliberate action 
of the other. 

11. The House of Representatives has no President 
like the Senate. Its presiding officer is called " The 
Speaker." He is chosen by the votes of the members, 
at the beginning of each Congress, which lasts two 
years. Consequently he holds his office two years. 
The Clerk of the House is also elected by its mem- 
bers, as are all its minor officers. 

12. Correctly speaking, both the members of the Sen- 
ate and of the House, are members of Congress, but by 
custom, Representatives only are called Members of 
Congress, (abbreviated into M. C.,) and the members 
of the Senate, Senators. 

As there are 37 States now, the Senate has 74 mem- 
bers, and by a law of 1863, the number of Represent- 
atives was fixed at 241 ; but if a new State comes into 
the Union after an apportionment, her member or mem- 
bers may be added to the 241, and so continue until 
the next apportionment. 

COMPENSATION. 

13. Senators and members of the House of Repre- 
sentatives receive the same compensation, the amount 
of which has been increased three times. It had al- 
ways been eight dollars per day, down to 1856, when it 
was increased to three thousand dollars per session. 
Then in 1866 it was again raised to five thousand dol- 
lars per session ; and as there are always two sessions 
to every Congress, each member receives ten thousand 
dollars during his full term. 



28 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. ' 

14. Mileage is an additional compensation. Until 
1865 this was forty cents per mile, reckoned from the 
residence of the member to Washington by the usual 
roads or routes between the two places. In 1865 the 
law was modified, and the sum fixed at twenty cents 
per mile. " The laborer is worthy of his hire," is a 
maxim from the highest authority, and is so manifestly 
just that nobody questions its truth. But giving Mem- 
bers of Congress twenty cents per mile for traveling ex- 
penses, when it does not cost them four, (in these days) 
is as manifestly unjust as the maxim is true. It is rob- 
bery by law; and how the majority of thirty-nine Con- 
gresses have consented to let this swindle go on, and 
still continue, is a matter of astonishment to every one 
who believes that " righteousness exalteth a nation, 
but sin is a reproach to any people." 

The monstrous inequality this law makes in the com- 
pensation of members, adds to the wonder that it has 
existed so lon^. Those who live near Washington do 
not receive a hundred dollars for mileage, while those 
living at the greatest distance pocket twelve thousand 
dollars of the people's money for what costs them five 
hundred. 

15. During the Eevolutionarywar, and up to the time 
that the Constitution went into operation, (April 30, 
1789,) the thirteen colonies sent delegates, who met 
whenever the exigencies of the times required their 
action, and whenever their safety and convenience dic- 
tated. These delegates, without much power or 
authority, did such things as seemed necessary to be 
done to carry on the war and to keep things in order. 



CONGRESS. 29 

Their acts generally met with the approval of the peo- 
ple ; for in times of such common danger, they were 
little inclined to question the authority of those who 
they believed were acting for the general good ; and 
as to their constitutional powers to do any thing, we 
have only to say, there was no Constitution then but 
the wishes of the people. 

This body of men, denominated the " Continental 
Congress," ceased to exist after the adoption of our 
present Constitution, which made provision for a con- 
stitutional Congress, whose election, power, authority 
and duties are all clearly defined in the instrument it- 
self. 

16. The first Congress after the adoption of the Con- 
stitution met in New York, where two sessions were 
held. It then removed to Philadelphia, where it re- 
mained till 1800, when in conformity with an act of 
Congress, it removed to "Washington, where it has re- 
mained to this day. 

As a Congress continues two years, if at any time 
we wish to know how many Congresses there have 
been, or will be up to the time required, reckon the 
number of years from 1789 — the beginning of the 
first — to the year in question ; then -divide the sum of 
the years by two, and the quotient will give the exact 
number. 



30 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER IV. 
The President. 

1. " The Executive powers of the government shall 
be vested in a President of the United States of Amer- 
ica." Thus reads the first line of the first section of the 
second article of the Constitution. This article is devo- 
ted exclusively to the highest officer in the government. 
The Executive and the President are in the Constitu- 
tion synonymous terms. He is likewise denominated 
" the chief magistrate of the nation." He is himself one 
of the co-ordinate branches of the government. These 
are three in number; first, the Legislative [Congress]; 
second, the Executive [the President] ; third, the Judi- 
ciary [the Judges of the United States Courts.] These 
constitute the whole civil power of the nation. Con- 
gress enacts the laws, and the President must see that 
they are faithfully executed; which he does through 
the various Executive departments, and the different 
courts. He and the Senate appoint the heads of these 
departments, and the judges of the courts, and they ex- 
ecute the laws. The heads of departments act under 
the general direction of the President. 

2. The Presidents are elected for four years, and are 
eligible to re-election. Several times they have been 
re-elected, and have consequently held the office eight 
years. The term always commences on the fourth day 
of March, and terminates on the same day of the 



THE PRESIDENT. 31 

month. The Presidential elections, the most impor- 
tant and exciting of all elections, occur every four 
years, and now take place in all the States on the 
same day, early in November. It is said the President 
is chosen by the people, and yet they do not directly 
vote for him at all. 

The people elect Electors, and these elect the Presi- 
dent and Vice-President. Turn to the third section of 
the second article of the Constitution, and then to the 
twelfth article of the amendments of it, where you 
will find the whole process properly described. He 
must be thirty-five years of age when elected. And 
in case of his death, removal, resignation, or any disa- 
bility to discharge the duties of the Office, the Vice- 
President then becomes President. 

He receives a salary of $25,000 a year for his ser- 
vices besides the use of the presidential mansion, (com- 
monly called the White House,) and the furniture in it, 
and is debarred from the receipt of any other emolu- 
ment. 

4. Before entering upon the duties of his office, he 
must take the following oath or affirmation: 

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faith- 
fully execute the office of President of the United 
States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, 
protect and defend the Constitution of the United 
States." 

In adition to his civil power, he is Commander-in- 
Chief both of the Army and Navy, and may grant re- 
prieves and pardons, except in case of impeachment. 

He — by and with the advice and consent of two- 
thirds of the Senate — may make treaties with foreign 



32 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

powers. He has the power, and it is his duty to nomi- 
nate, and by the advice and consent of the Senate, to 
appoint ambassadors and other public ministers, con- 
suls, judges, and in short all other officers of the gov- 
ernment, whose appointments are not otherwise pro- 
vided for. 

5. It is also made his duty from time to time, to lay 
before Congress information respecting the state of the 
country, and to recommend to their notice such mea- 
sures as he may deem proper and beneficial to the in- 
terests of the nation. His principal and most impor- 
tant communication, however, is that made to Con- 
gress at the commencement of each session. This is 
called the "President's Message," and is always looked 
for with much interest, both at home and abroad; for 
it, more than any other public document, shows tlie 
condition of the government and the country, both in 
their domestic affairs and foreign relations. At other 
times the President sends messages to Congress upon 
some special matter, which he considers it important 
for that body to know, or which he is requested to lay 
before it for information. 

He may call extra sessions of Congress on extraordi- 
nary occasions. And when it passes any bill which he 
does not approve, and he refuses to sign it, it cannot 
become a law unless it goes back to Congress, and is 
again passed by two-thirds of both Houses. This is 
called his "veto power." 

6. He, with all civil officers of the United States, 
may be impeached, and removed from office, for 
treason, bribery, and other high crimes. 



THE PRESIDENT. 33 

The foregoing powers and duties are confered upon 
the President by the Constitution ; but Congress has, 
at every session it has ever held, increased these pow- 
ers and duties until he is overwhelmed with them; and 
we cannot but think that he now possesses more power 
than the framers of the Constitution ever designed to 
trust in any one man's hand. 

The following are the names of all the Presidents, 
from ^Washington, the first, down to the present in- 
cumbent : 

George Washington, Va., 30th April, 1789, to 4th 
March, 1797—8 years. 

John Adams, Mass., 4th March, 1797, to 4th March, 
1801—4 years. 

Thomas Jefferson, Va., 4th March, 1801 to 4th March, 
1809—8 years. 

James Madison, Va., 4th March, 1809 to 4th March, 
1817—8 years. 

James Monroe, Va., 4th March, 1817, to 4th March, 
1825—8 years. 

John Quincy Adams, Mass, 4th March, 1825, to 4th 
March, 1829—4 years. 

Andrew Jackson, Tenn., 4th 'March, 1829, to 4th 
March, 1837—8 years. 

Martin Van Buren, K Y., 4th March, 1837, to 4th 
March, 1841—4 years. 

William H. Harrison, O., 4th March, 1841, to 4th 
April, 1841 — 1 month. 

John Tyler, Va., 4th April, 1841, to 4th March, 1845, 
— 3 years and eleven months. 

James K Polk, Tenn., 4th March, 1845, to 4th March, 
1849—4 years. 

Zachary Taylor, La., 4th March, 1849, to 9th July, 
1850 — 1 year, 4 months, and 5 days. 
2 



34 OUTLINES U. S. GOVEKNMENT. 

Millard Fillmore, K Y., 9th July, 1850, to 4th 
March, 1853—2 years, 7 months, and 26 days. 

Franklin Pierce, K II., 4th March, 1853, to 4th 
March, 1857—4 years. 

James Buchanan, Pa., 4th March, 1857, to 4th March, 
1861—4 years. 

Abraham Lincoln, 111., 4th March, 1861, to April, 
1865--4 years, 1 month, and 8 days. 

Andrew Johnson, Tenn., April, 1865, to Mch. 4, '69. 

Ulysses S. Grant, 111., March 4th, 1869, to March 4th, 
1873. 

Of these, William H. Harrison died 4th April, 1841, 
just one month after his inauguration. On the death 
of Harrison, Tyler, the Vice-President, became acting 
President. Taylor died July 9, 1850, and Fillmore, 
Vice-President, became acting President. Lincoln 
was assassinated on the 12th April, 1865, one month 
and eight days after he was inaugurated upon his 
second term ; and Andrew Johnson, the Vice-Presi- 
dent, became acting President ; this being the third 
time that such an event has occurred since the govern- 
ment went into operation. 



THE VICE PRESIDENT. 35 



CHAPTER V. 
The Vice President. 

1. The high sounding title of this officer would 
lead one who is but little acquainted with our govern- 
ment to think that he stands next to the President 
himself in dignity and power ; that on his shoulders 
rested a large amount of the duties and responsibilities 
of administration. Such, however, is not the case. 
He is, in fact, nearer a cipher than any of the high 
officers of State. He is merely the presiding officer of 
the Senate, with not even the power to vote, except in 
case of a tie vote in that body, when he may give the 
casting vote. It is only in case of the death, resigna- 
tion, impeachment, or disability of the President to 
discharge his duties, that the Vice President becomes 
an officer of much power or dignity. He is something 
like an heir-apparent to a throne. The Constitution 
provides that he shall take the President's place in case 
any of the foregoing contingencies occur ; and up to 
this date this has happened three times. 

2. He is elected at the same time and in the same 
manner as the President, and for the same term, and 
must possess the same qualifications ; that is, he must 
be a native citizen of the United States, and of the 
age of 35 years. 

The following is a list of the names of all who have 
filled this office, from John Adams, the first, down to 



36 - OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

the present incumbent, with the dates of entrance upon 
their duties. 

John Adams, Mass., 30th April, 1789, to 4th March, 

1797 — eight years. 
Thomas Jefferson, Ya., 4th March, 1797, to 4th March, 

1801 — four years. 
Aaron Burr, K Y., 4th March, 1801, to 4th March,? 

1805 — four years. 
George Clinton, E\ Y., 4th March, 1805, to 20th 

April, 1812 — seven years, one month, sixteen days. 
Elbridge Gerry, Mass., 4th March, 1813, to 23d Nov., 

1814 — one year, seven months, nineteen days. 
Daniel D. Tompkins, K Y., 4th March, 1817, to 4th 

March, 1825 — eight years. 
John C. Calhoun, S. C, 4th March, 1825, to 4th March, 

1833 — eight years. 
Martin Yan Buren, fi". Y., 4th March, 1833, to 4th 

March, 1837 — four years. 
Richard M. Johnson, Ky., 4th March, 1837, to 4th 

March, 1841 — four years. 
John Tyler, Ya., 4th March, 1841, to 4th April, 1841 

— one month. 
George M. Dallas, Pa., 4th March, 1845, to 4th March, 

1849 — four years. 
Millard Fillmore, F. Y., 4th March, 1849, to 9th July, 

1850 — one year, four months. 
William R. King, Ala. 
John C. Breckinridge, Ky., 4th March, 1857, to 4th 

March, 1861 — four years. 
Hannibal Hamlin, Me., 4th March, 1861. to 4th March, 

1865 — four years. 
Andrew Johnson, Tenn., 4th March, 1865, to 15th 

April, 1865 — one month, eleven days. 

Schuyler Colfax, Ind., Mch. 4th, '69, to Mch. 4th, '73. 

Of these, Clinton died April 20, 1812 ; from which 
time till 4th March, 1813, the Yice-Presidency was 

vacant. 



THE VICE PKESIDENT. 37 

Gerry died Nov. 23, 1814 ; from which time till 4th 
March, 1817, the Vice Presidency was vacant. 

Tyler became acting President upon the death of 
President Harrison ; and until March 4th, 1845, the 
Vice Presidency was vacant. 

Fillmore became acting President upon the death of 
President Taylor, 9th July, 1850 ; and until March 4th, 
1853, the Vice Presidency was vacant. 

King was elected with President Pierce, in 1852 ; 
but died 18th April, 1853. He never took his seat, 
and the Vice Presidency was vacant till 4th March, 
1857. 

Johnson became acting President upon the death of 
President Lincoln, 15th April, 1865 ; and the Vice 
Presidency again became vacant, and remained rq 
till 4th March, 1869. 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEENMENT. 



CHAPTER VI. 
State Department, and Secretary of State. 

1. The Constitution makes no mention of this 
department of the government, or of any such officer 
as Secretary of State, or indeed, of any other of the 
Executive Departments, or of their official heads. 
They were all created by acts of Congress ; and when 
it first met, the Constitution was the only guide it had 
for its action — but that clothed it with all the legisla- 
tive power of the government. Consequently, at its 
very first session it passed such acts as were necessary 
to put the new government into operation. Several 
departments were created, and the officers for their 
management appointed. This was the first of all the 
Executive departments created by Congress. In the 
outset it was found necessary to correspond and nego- 
tiate with foreign governments, and to have some duly 
authorized official to conduct such correspondence. 
Hence, this department of the government was estab- 
lished, and at first denominated " the Department of 
Foreign Affairs; " and the principal officer at its head 
was denominated " the Secretary for the Department of 
Foreign Affairs." But before the close of this session 
of Congress, for some reason it was determined to 
change the denomination of it from that of "Depart- 
ment of Foreign Affairs," to that of "Department of 
State;" and that of the Secretary, to "Secretary of 



STATE DEPARTMENT. 39 

State ; " and by these names they have ever since been 
known. 

2. The Secretary of State in our government, is the 
highest officer after the President. He is what in 
other governments is called the Prime Minister. In 
monarchical governments all the high officers of State 
are called Ministers ; but in ours they are known by 
the modest name of Secretaries. 

By a law passed in 1853, the office of Assistant Sec- 
retary of State was created. The incumbent acts 
under the direction of the Secretary. Previous to 
this act, the principal inferior officer in the State 
Department was the Chief Clerk, who is appointed by 
the Secretary. 

3. The great seal of the United States is in the cus- 
tody of the Secretary of State, and it is his duty to 
affix it to all civil commissions to officers of the 
United States who are appointed by the President and 
Senate, or by the President alone. 

4. Under the direction and instruction of the Presi- 
dent, the law makes it his duty to hold correspondence 
and give instructions to our Foreign Ministers and 
Consuls, and also to hold correspondence with 
public Ministers from foreign governments, and to 
do all other things relating; to foreign matters which 

o o o 

the President shall direct him to perform 

5. It is also made his duty to keep in his office the 
original copies of all acts, resolutions and orders of 
Congress. He must also deliver to each Senator and 
Representative in Congress, and to the Governor of 
each State, a printed copy of the same; and during 



40 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

the session of each. Congress he must publish the acts 
and resolutions passed by it in one newspaper in the 
District of Columbia, and in not more than two in each 
State and Territory of the United States. He must 
also publish in like manner all amendments of the 
Constitution, and all public treaties made and ratified 
between the United States and any foreign State, 
Prince or Power, or with any of the Indian tribes. 

6. And at the close of each session of Congress he 
must cause to be published 11,000 copies in book form 
of all the laws, &c, as before stated ; and to distribute 
the same as directed by law to the President and Vice 
President, and to every ex-President ; to all the mem- 
bers of the Senate and House of Representatives ; to 
all the heads of the various departments and bureaus ; 
to all the Judges of the United States Courts, their 
Clerks and Marshals ; to all our Foreign Ministers, 
Consuls and Public Agents ; in short, to all the import- 
ant officers of the government at home and abroad ; 
in order that all who are in government employ may 
know what the laws are, and what changes have been 
made in acts formerly existing. The remaining copies 
are distributed to the States and Territories according 
to the number of Eepresentatives in Oongress from 
each of them. 

7. It is also made the duty of the Secretary of State to 
give passports to our own citizens who wish to travel 
in foreign countries ; to cause passports to be issued 
by such Diplomatic or Consular officers of the United 
States as the President shall direct ; to give such infor- 
mation to our people through the newspapers as he 



STATE DEPARTMENT. 41 

may from time to time receive from our Diplomatic 
and Consular agents abroad, as he may deem import- 
ant to the nation, respecting our commercial interests 
in foreign countries, and to prepare a form of passport 
for American ships and vessels of the United States. 

8. In the execution of extradition treaties between 
us and foreign governments, it is lawful for the Secre- 
tary of State, under his hand and seal of office, to 
issue an order for the rendition of any person who has 
been found guilty of crime in a foreign country, to 
any properly authorized person ; that such criminal 
may be taken out of the United States to the country 
where the crime was committed. 

9. We have thus sketched the principal duties of 
* this high officer of State, and can readily see that they 

are arduous. Those which relate to foreign affairs are 
exceedingly responsible ; for peace or war may often 
depend on the skill and wisdom with which he man- 
ages our affairs with foreign governments. 

In addition to the foregoing duties, he is a member 
of the Cabinet, and hence is one of the President's 
advisers and counselors ; and in relation to foreign 
matters, he has more influence than any other member 
of that body. He is appointed by the President, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate. He is 
appointed for four years ; that is, during a Presidential 
term ; but may be removed by the President at any 
time. This, however, is rarely done. He receives a 
salary of $8,000 per annum. 

10. As a matter of historical reference, we append 
the names of all the statesmen who have iilled this 



42 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

high office, commencing with the first, and placing 
them in the order of the dates of their appointments, 
together with the States from which they came : 

SECRETARIES OF STATE. 

Thomas Jefferson, Va., Sept. 26, 1789. 
Edmund Randolph, Va., Jan. 2, 1794. 
Timothy Pickering, Mass., Dec. 10, 1795. 
John Marshall, Va., May 13, 1800. 
James Madison, Va., March 5, 1801. 
Robert Smith, Mel., March 6, 1809. 
James Monroe, Va., April 2, 1811. 
John Quincy Adams, Mass., March 4, 1817. 
Henry Clay, Ky., March 7, 1825. 
Martin Van Buren, K Y., March 6, 1829. 
Edward P. Livingston, La., May 24, 1831 . 
Louis McLean, Del., May 29, 1833. 
John Forsyth, Ga., June 27, 1834. 
Daniel Webster, Mass., March 5, 1841. 
H. S. Legare, S. C, May 9, 1843. 
A. P. Upsher, Va., June 24, 1843. 
John Nelson, Md., Feb. 29, 1844. 
John C. Calhoun, S. C, March 6, 1844. 
James Buchanan, Pa., March 5, 1845. 
John M. Clayton, Del., March 7, 1849. 
Daniel Webster, Mass., July 20, 1850. 
Edward Everett, Mass., Dec. 9, 1851. 
William L. Marcy, E". Y., March 5, 1853. 
Lewis Cass, Mich., March 6, 1857. 
Jeremiah S. Black, Pa., Dec. 14, 1860. 
William H. Seward, K Y., March 5, 1861c 
Elihu B. Washburne, 111., March 5th, 1869. 
Hamilton Fish, K Y., March 11th, 1869. „ 



SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. 43 



CHAPTER VII. 
Secretary of the Treasury. 

1. If any department of the government should ever 
be abolished, it certainly will not be this; for without 
it, or some institution very similar in its plan, the gov- 
ernment itself would crumble into its original ele- 
ments, — individual persons. Without money, no gov- 
ernment could be sustained. The Treasury is the 
place into which the money flows, and from which it 
flows. 

2. The United States Treasury is the receptacle of 
all the funds, (or an account of them,) collected from 
whatever source, for carrying on the various opera- 
tions of the government. It was established by a law 
of Congress in 1789; and with such modifications of 
the law as experience has proved to be necessary, it 
remains to this day. We embrace in our account o± 
the Treasury Department, its head, the Secretary of the 
Treasury, and his duties ; for it would be difficult to 
describe one without the other. This office was crea- 
ted at the same time with the department itself. It is 
one of great responsibility, and the incumbent should 
be thoroughly skilled in the science and management 
of finances; for no man in the United States has such 
vast sums to provide for, receive, and disburse, as the 
Secretary of the Treasury. During the late civil war 
they amounted to hundreds of millions a year. 

3. He is appointed like all other heads of depart- 



44 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

ments, by the President and Senate; holds his office 
for four years, unless sooner removed; is a member of 
the Cabinet; and receives $8,000 a year as salary. 
Connected with him, as aids in the discharge of his 
duties, are an Assistant Secretary, a Comptroller, and 
Second Comptroller, five Auditors, Treasurer, and his 
assistant, a Register and his assistant, a Commissioner 
of Customs, a Comptroller of the Currency, and a dep- 
uty and a Solicitor of the Treasury ; all these officials 
are appointed by the President and Senate. 

4. These, with several hundred clerks, constitute the 
officials and machinery by which this great depart- 
ment of the Government is operated. It would be 
quite too tedious, and of doubtful utility, to describe 
the particular duties of each of these officials. Suffice 
it, therefore, to say, that each one has his specific 
duties to perform, without any interference with oth- 
ers; and perhaps the world could not show another 
establishment, where such a vast amount of business 
is transacted with more order, skill and accuracy than 
at this office. 

5. Here the accounts of all receivers and disbursers of 
government money, are presented and settled; after 
having been examined and approved by several of the 
above named officials, who are charged with this 
duty. 

6. The Commissioner of Customs attends to the ac- 
counts of Collectors of duties imposed on imported 
goods. The First Comptroller must collect debts due 
to the United States, and superintend the adjustment 
and preservation of the public accounts. 

The First Auditor receives all accounts coming into 



. SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. 45 

the department; the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth 
Auditors each examine the accounts of such depart- 
ment as is assigned to them respectively. 

It is not necessary to. go further in detailing the par- 
ticular duties of the officers of this department. We 
have only noticed a few of them, merely as examples 
of the system of conducting the business of this great 
branch of the Government. 

7. Let it not be understood that all the monies col- 
lected and disbursed by the United States are received 
and paid out at the Treasury building at "Washington, 
which is only the principal office at the seat of Gov- 
ernment, — for in addition to this there are Sub-Treasu- 
ries in several of the large cities, where the public 
monies are received and disbursed. The head officers 
of these Sub-Treasuries, are termed Assistant Treasu- 
rers. 

The law also makes the Treasurer of the Mint at 
Philadelphia, and the Treasurers of some of the branch 
mints, Assistant Treasurers, for they have public mon- 
ies in their keeping, and if so ordered by the Treasury 
Department at Washington, they disburse it as directed. 
The same orders are sometimes given to collectors, 
post-masters, receiver of the land offices, &c, and they 
disburse as well as receive government funds; but the 
accounts of all these must be sent to, and settled in the 
office of the Secretary of the Treasury. 

8. Any one would readily suppose that men intrus- 
ted with the receipt and disbursement of such large 
sums of the people's money, should give security for 
their fidelity to their trusts. This the law requires. 



46 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

and tills they must do before they enter upon their re- 
spective duties. But in spite of all precautions, dis- 
honest men get into those places ; and public default- 
ers are not rare specimens of humanity, among office 
holders. 

SECRETARIES OF THE TREASURY. 

Alexander Hamilton, K Y., Sept. 12, 1789. 
Oliver Wolcott, Ct., Feb. 4, 1795. 
Samuel Dexter, Mass., Dec. 31, 1800. 
Albert Gallatin, Pa., May 14, 1801. 
George W. Campbell, Tenn., Feb. 9, 1814. 
Alexander J. Dallas, Pa., Oct. 6, 1814. 
"William II. Crawford, Ga., Oct. 22, 1816. 
Richard Rush, Pa., Mar. 7, 1825. 
Samuel D. Ingham, Pa., Mar. 6, 1829. 
Louis McLane, Del., Aug. 8, 1831. 
William A. Duane, Pa., Mav 29, 1833. 
Rosier B. Taney, McL, Sept. 23, 1833. 
Levi W r oodbury, K H., June 27, 1834. 
Thomas Ewing, O., Mar. 5, 1841. 
Walter Forward, Pa., Sept. 13, 1841. 
John C. Spencer, K Y., Mar. 3, 1843. 
George M. Bibb, Ky., June 15, 1844. 
- Robert J. Walker, Miss., Mar.' 5, 1845. 
W. M. Meredith, Pa., Mar. 7, 1849. 
Thomas Corwin, 0., June 20, 1850. 
James Guthrie, Ky., Mar. 5, 1853. 
Howell Cobb, Ga., Mar. 6, 1857. 
Philip F. Thomas, Md.," Dec. 10, 1860. 
John A. Dix, K Y., 1861. 
Salmon P. Chase, O., Mar. 5, 1861. 
William P. Fessenden, Me., July, 1864. 
Hugh McCulloch, Ind., 1864. 
Alexander T. Stewart, March 5th, 1869. 
George S. Boutwell, March 11, 1869. 



SECRETARY OF WAR. 47 



CHAPTER YIH. 
The War Department, and Secretary of War. 

1. The Dame of this department sufficiently indicates 
the design and object of its creation, and the kind of 
public business committed to its care and management. 
The Secretary of War is the head of it, its principal 
officer. He is one of the great officers of State and a 
member of the Cabinet. He, like all the heads of de- 
partments, is appointed by the President and Senate. 
Four years is the time for which he is appointed, but, 
with the consent of the Senate, he may be sooner re- 
moved by the President, if he sees fit to do so. He 
receives $8,000 pen annum as his salary. In military 
authority he ranks next to the President. 

2. As stated in another place, the Constitution makes 
no specific provision for this or any other of the de- 
partments into which the government is divided. 
They are all the creations of Congress, and exist by 
enactments of law. The "War Department, with sev- 
eral others, was created at the first session of the first 
Congress, which met after the Government went into 
operation under the Constitution, in 1789. 

3. We can convey no better idea of the object of 
establishing this department and the officer at its head, 
than by quoting the first section of the act by which 
they were created: "There shall be an Executive De- 
partment, to be denominated the Department of War; 



48 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

and there shall be a principal officer therein, to be 
called the Secretary for the Department of "War, who 
shall perform and execute such duties as shall from 
time to time be enjoined on or entrusted to him by 
the President of the United States, agreeably to the 
Constitution, relative to military commissions or to the 
land forces, ships, or warlike stores of the United 
States; or to such other matters respecting military 
affairs as the President of the United States shall as- 
sign to the said department ; and furthermore, the said 
principal officer shall conduct the business of the said 
department in such manner as the President of the 
United States shall from time to time order or in- 
struct." 

4. According to the act by which this department 
was established, a Chief Clerk, appointed by the Secre- 
tary, was the second officer in authority in it, and acted 
in his stead in case of vacancy in the Secretaryship. 
But in 1861 Congress passed an act authorizing the 
President to appoint an Assistant Secretary of "War; 
and in 1862 another act was passed, authorizing the 
appointment of two additional Assistants. This, how- 
ever, was intended as a temporary arrangement, to last 
only during the existence of the lamentable civil war 
which was at that time in progress, and which necessa- 
rily greatly increased the business of the department. 

5. The Secretary of "War has in his keeping all books, 
records, and papers, relating to military affairs. Here 
are to be found the names of all officers and men whether 
in the regular army or in the volunteer service. Con- 
nected with the War Department, are a number of sub- 



SECRETARY OF WAR. 49 

departments, or bureaus, as these sub-departments are 
commonly called; among which are the Commissary, the 
Quatermaster's and Ordnance Departments. These 
are all under the general supervision and direction of 
the Secretary. 

6. In time of peace the War Department attracts no 
particular public notice. But in time of war it draws 
around it more attention than any other branch of the 
government; for on its good or bad management the 
weal or woe of the nation depends. 

Hence the Secretary of War should be a man well 
acquainted with military affairs, of sound judgment, 
and of undoubted integrity. In this department all ac- 
counts relating to military matters are kept and 
adjusted. 

In addition to the Assistant Secretaries, the Pres- 
ident and Senate were authorized, in 1863, to appoint 
a Solicitor in the War Department. These, with a 
large clerical force, transact the business of this im- 
portant branch of the government. 

The following is a list of the names of all who have 
filled the office of Secretary of War, from the first 
down to the present incumbent, with the dates of their 
appointment, and the States in which they lived: 

SECRETARIES OP WAR. 

Henry Knox, Mass., Sept. 12, 1789. 
Timothy Pickering, Pa., Jan. 2, 1795. 
James Mcllenry, Md., Jan. 27, 1796. 
James Marshall, Va., May 7, 1800. 
Samuel Dexter, Mass., May 13, 1800. 
Roger Griswold, Ct., Feb. 3, 1801. 



50 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Henry Dearborn, Mass., March 5, 1801. 

"William Eustis, Mass., March 7, 1809. 

John Armstrong, K Y., Jan. 13, 1813. 

James Monroe, Va., Sept. 27, 1814. 

William H. Crawford, Ga., March 2, 1815. 

Isaac Shelby, Ky., March 5, 1817. 

G. Graham, Va., April 7, 1817. 

John C. Calhoun, S. C, Oct. 8, 1817. 

James Barbour, Va., March 7, 1825. 

Peter B. Porter, K Y., May 26, 1828. 

J. H. Eaton, Tenn., March 9, 1829. 

Lewis Cass, Mich., Aug. 1, 1831. 

Benjamin F. Butler, K Y., March 3, 1837c 

Joel E. Poinsett, S. C, March 7, 1837. 

John Bell, Tenn., March 5, 1841. 

John McLean, 0., Sept. 13, 1841. 

John C. Spencer, K Y., Oct. 12, 1841. 

James W. Porter, Pa., March 8, 1843. 

William Wilkins, Pa., Feb. 15, 1844. 

William L. Marcy, K Y., March 5, 1845. 

George W. Crawford, Ga., March 6, 1849. 

Charles M. Conrad, La., Aug. 8, 1850. 

Jefferson Davis, Miss., March 5, 1853. 

John B. Floyd, Va., March 6, 1857. 

Joseph Holt, Ky., Dec. 30, 1860. 

Simon Cameron, Pa., March 5, 1861. 

Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., Jan. 13, 1862. 

Ulysses S. Grant, 111., 1868. 

J. M. Schoueld, 1868. 

John A. Rawlins, 111., Mch. 5, '69. Died Sept. 6/69. 

Wm. T. Sherman, Sept. 9, 1869. 

Wm. W. Belknap, Oct. 25, 1869. 



SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 51 



CHAPTER IX. 
Navy Department, and Secretary of the Navy. 

1. The Navy and the Army are the two strong arms 
of the nation. By these we preserve order at home 
and protect ourselves against wrongs abroad, or inva- 
sion of our rights by any foreign power, whether at home 
or elsewhere. They may be termed the belligerent 
parts of the government ; and if we institute a com- 
parison between them, it is not easy to determine 
which is the strongest arm, or which is the most effi- 
cient agent of national defence. 

2. The Eavy Department, like the War Department, 
was established at an early period after the adoption of 
the Constitution. The office of Secretary of the ISTavy 
was created at the same time that the department it- 
self was. He is appointed by the President and Senate, 
is one of the highest officers of the Government, one of 
the seven members of the Cabinet, and receives a 
salary of $8,000 per annum. 

As the President is Commander-in-Chief as well of 
the Navy as of the Army, the Secretary of course acts 
under his direction. It is made his duty to execute the 
President's orders relative to the procurement of naval 
stores and materials, and the construction, armament, 
equipment and employment of vessels of war, and all 
other matters connected with the naval establishment. 



52 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

3. As. ill the War Department, a head clerk was for- 
merly second in rank and authority in this; but in the 
year 1861, by an act of Congress, the office of Assistant 
Secretary of the E"avy was created. Its incumbent fills 
the second place, and acts as Secretary in the absence 
of that officer. 

Formerly there were five bureaus in this department, 
but in 1862, three more were added, making eight, as 
follows : 

1. A Bureau of Yards and Docks. 

2. A Bureau of Equipment and Eecruiting. 

3. A Bureau of Navigation. 

4. A Bureau of Ordnance. 

5. A Bureau of Construction and Repairs. 

6. A Bureau of Steam Engineering. 

7. A Bureau of Provisions and Clothing. 

8. A Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. 

The President and Senate appoint all the heads of 
these bureaus, and select them principally from officers 
of high rank in the navy. They are all appointed for 
four years, and each receives a salary of $3,500 per an- 
num. 

4. The Secretary appoints all the clerks in each of these 
bureaus, and distributes such duties to each as he 
thinks proper. They all act under his direction. He 
must annually report to Congress the state and condi- 
tion of his department, and the expenditures of the 
same, specifying the amounts expended for the items 
of building, repairing, wages of mechanics, laborers, 
equipping vessels of the navy, &c, &c. 



SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 53 



SECRETARIES OF THE NAVY. 

\ 



The following list embraces the names of all the 
Secretaries of the Navy, from George Cabot, the first, 
to George W. Robeson, the present incumbent: 

George Cabot, Mass., May 3, 1798. 
Benjamin Stoddard, Mass., May 21, 1798. 
Robert Smith, Md., July 15, 1801. 
J. Crowningshield, Mass., May 3, 1805. 
Paul Hamilton, S. C, March 7, 1809. 
William Jones, Pa., Jan. 12, 1813. 
B. W. Crowningshield, Mass., Dec. 17, 1814. 
Smith Thompson, K Y., Nov. 9, 1818. 
John Rogers, Mass., Sept. 1, 1823. 
S. L. Southard, K. J., Sept. 16, 1823. 
John Branch, N. C, March 9, 1829. 
Levi Woodbury, K H., May 23, 1831. 
Mahlon Dickerson, K J., June 30, 1834. 
J. R. Paulding, K Y., June 20, 1830. 
G. P. Badger, K C, March 5, 1841. 
Abel P. Upsher, Va., Sept. 13, 1841. 
David Henshaw, Mass., July 24, 1843. 
T. W. Gilmer, Va., Feb. 12, 1844. 
John Y. Mason, Va., March 14, 1844. 
George Bancroft, Mass., March 10, 1845. 
John Y. Mason, Va., Sept. 9, 1846. 
William B. Preston, Va., March 7, 1849. 
Wiliam A. Graham, N". C, July 20, 1850. 
J. P. Kennedy, Md., July 22, 1850. 
J. C. Dobbin, K C, March 5, 1853. 
Isaac Toucey, Ct, March 6, 1857. 
Gideon Welles, Ct., March 5, 1861. 
Adolph E. Borie, Pa., March 5, 1869. 
George M. Robeson, N. J., June 25, 1869. 



54 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER X. 

Interior Department, and Secretary of the 
Interior. 

1. A little reflection will enable any one to under- 
stand that there must necessarily be a constantly in- 
creasing amount of business to be done by a govern- 
ment whose territory and population have increased as 
rapidly as they have done in the United States. In 
every department there has been an accumulation of 
work to be done and of duties to be performed. 

2. In consequence of this state of things, Congress, 
in 1849, passed an act creating a new Executive de- 
partment, called "the Department of the Interior," 
which act also provided for the appointment of a head 
to this new branch of government, called the Secre- 
tary of the Interior. He is appointed like all the 
other Secretaries, is one of the high officers of the gov- 
ernment, is a member of the Cabinet, and in compen- 
sation and dignity ranks with the Secretaries or heads 
of the other departments. 

3. In this act it was provided that the Secretary of 
the Interior should perform all the duties heretofore 
devolving on the Secretary of State in relation to the 
office of Commissioner of Patents ; in other words, the 
Bureau of the Patent Office was transferred from the 
Department of State to that of the Interior. 

In the same manner the General Land Office was 
transferred from the Treasury Department to this. 



SECRETARY OP THE INTERIOR. . 55 

The supervisory power theretofore exercised by the 
Secretary of the Treasury over the accounts of the 
marshals, clerks, and other officers of all the courts of 
the United States, was thereby placed in the hands of 
the new Secretary. The office of the Commissioner of 
Indian Affairs, heretofore attached to the War Depart- 
ment, was also transferred to this ; and the powers 
and duties of the Secretary of "War, in relation to In- 
dian affairs, were devolved on the Secretary of the In- 
terior. 

4. The Secretaries of War and of the Navy were by 
the same act relieved of their duties in regard to the 
Commissioner of Pensions, and those duties were 
thereafter to be performed by the Secretary of the new 
department. 

The Census Bureau, heretofore attached to the State 
Department, and the duties of the Secretary of State in 
relation thereto, were also transferred to this depart- 
ment. 

To the Secretary was also given the supervisory 
power over the lead and other mines belonging to the 
United States, heretofore executed by the Secretary of 
the Treasury. 

The powers of the President over the Commissioners 
of Public Buildings were also transferred to him. 

5. He was also charged with the control over the 
Board of Inspectors and Warden of the Penitentiary 
of the District of Columbia. 

The Secretary of the Interior has the same power in 
appointing and removing clerks and other subordin- 
ates in his department, that the Secretaries of the other 



56 OUTLINES IT. S. GOVERNMENT. 

departments had over these several bureaus before they 
were transferred to this department. 

This office has a seal, which must be affixed to the 
commissions of all its subordinate officers. 

The President and Senate appoint the Assistant Sec- 
retaries. 

From the foregoing it is easy to understand what 
branches of the public service are conducted in this 
office, and what are the duties of its Secretary. 

SECRETARIES OF THE INTERIOR. 

6. The following is a list ot all who have filled the 
office of Secretary of the Interior since the establish- 
ment of the department: 

Thomas H. Ewing, Ohio, March 7, 1849. 

Alexander H. H. Stuart, Va., Sept. 12, 1850. 

Robert McClelland, Mich., March 5, 1853, 

Jacob Thompson, Miss., March 6, 1857. 

Caleb B. Smith, Ind., March 5, 1861. 

John P. Usher, Ind., Jan. 7, 1863. 

James Harlan, Iowa, 1865. 

Orville H. Browning, 111., 1866. 

Jacob B. Cox. March 5, 1869. 



POSTMASTER GENERAL. 57 






CHAPTER XL 

Post-office Department, and Postmaster 
General. 

1. The Post-office Department is one of the most im* 
portantin the government; and one with which the 
people have more intercourse, and w T ith which they 
are better acquainted than any other. A post-office 
establishment is an institution by which the govern- 
ment undertakes to transmit letters and other mailable 
matter to the places where directed, for the people, in- 
stead of leaving them to do this business for them- 
selves, in the best way they can. It is by no means 
peculiar to our government, but is found in every civ- 
ilized country, and dates from ancient times. 

2. To find the basis of our own establishment, we 
have to look at the Constitution. There, in Art. 1, 
Sec. 8, we shall find the words, " Congress shall have 
the power to establish post-offices, and post roads." 
These few words are the foundation of all our laws re- 
lating to post-offices, post-masters, post roads, transpor- 
tation of the mail and everything else appertaining to 
the subject. 

3. Post-offices existed in this country before our gov- 
ernment did ; for while we were in a colonial state un- 
der the English government, it had established them 
at all important points, and also a tolerable mail sys- 
tem for that day and a^c. These were continued dur- 



58 OUTLINES OF TJ. S. GOVERNMENT. 

nig the Revolution, which resulted in the separation of 
this country from England. After our present govern- 
ment became established, it enacted laws and made 
provisions for a Post-Office Department; and this, with 
such alterations and amendments as experience and the 
growth of the country required, has remained and is in 
operation at the present day. 

4. By law a Postmaster General is placed at the 
head of this department, who is appointed for four 
years by the President and Senate ; his office is in the 
General Post Office at Washington ; . Jiis salary is 
$8,000 a year; he is a member of the Cabinet, and 
ranks as one of the high officers of State. He has 
three assistants, who are appointed in the same manner 
as himself. He has a seal of his office, an impression 
from which must be affixed to the commission of 
every postmaster in the United States ; and also to all 
transcripts of papers and documents which may be 
wanted from his office. The seal establishes their 
authenticity, and makes them proof of the same de- 
gree as the original papers. He must give bonds for 
the faithful performance of his duties, and take the 
usual official oath before he can enter upon those 
duties. 

HIS DUTIES. 

5. The laws of the department make it his duty to 
appoint all other postmasters (who are styled in law, 
deputy postmasters, but in common language, simply 
postmasters), whose compensation is less than $1,000 
per annum. All others are appointed by the President 
and Senate, or as he is himself. It is also his duty to 



POSTMASTER GENERAL. 59 

establish post-offices wherever he may deem it neces- 
sary ; to provide for the transportation of the mail on 
all the post-roads in the United States, and to foreign 
countries by sea. He must give all deputies their in- 
structions respecting their duties, and receive from them 
their accounts of the receipts and expenditures of their 
respective offices ; pay all expenses for the transmis- 
sion of the mails, and all others which relate to the 
management of his department; and once in three 
months render a quarterly account of all receipts and 
expenditures of the Post Office Department; and 
finally must superintend, control, and direct all deputy 
postmasters, agents, mail contractors, and employees 
in the mail service. 

THE MINOR POST-OFFICES. 

6. The centre of this great machine is at Washington, 
the capital of the nation ; but its branches extend, like 
the veins and nerves of the human body, in every 
direction and to every part. Post-offices, for the ac- 
commodation of the people, are found in every city, 
village, town and neighborhood throughout the length 
and breadth of the land. 

During the late civil war a great many of them were 
discontinued in the Southern States ; some of which 
have been re-established since the close of the war. 
For this reason we are not able to state the exact num- 
ber of post-offices in the United States at the present 
time ; but from the number known before the war, we 
judge there are not far from thirty thousand. Each 
has its postmaster, and when necessary, its assistants 
and clerks. This affords some idea of the vastness of 



60 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

this great government institution for the diffusion of 
intelligence among the people. It not only reaches 
out its arms to the remotest boundaries of our own 
country, but, by the agency of ships, stretches over 
the seas, and extends to every part of the habitable 
earth. 

POST-ROADS. 

7. It is the business of Congress to say what roads 
shall be post-roads and post-routes, and whether the 
mails shall be carried by land or by water. In the 
exercise of this power it has declared tliat all railroads 
shall be post-roads. Post-routes are also established 
between this country and foreign countries, by ships. 
The Postmaster General is empowered to contract 
with the owners of ships going to foreign countries, to 
carry the mails to and from the places of their depart- 
ure and destination. Thus the ocean is made into 
numerous mail routes. 

RATES OF POSTAGE. 

8. Cheap postage is of recent date. England first 
tried the experiment by making one penny the uniform 
rate of postage on single letters to all parts of that 
kingdom. This was very acceptable to the people, 
and worked so well that the United States followed 
her example. Here it has proved equally satisfactory 
to the people, and a perfect success. 

In establishing the present rates of postage, two 
objects were aimed at; first, to diminish the cost of 
sending letters, and second, to make the rates uniform 
to all parts of the country, irrespective of distance. 
Formerly the rates were much higher, and were made 



POSTMASTER GENERAL. 61 

to depend on two circumstances; first, the distance 
over which the letter was to be sent, and the rate varied 
from six to twenty-five cents ; second, the number of 
pieces on which the letter was written, counting every 
piece of paper as a letter. 

But by recent laws this has all been changed ; any 
distance within the United States makes no difference 
in the rate or charge for carrying; and instead of 
counting the pieces of paper used, weight is made the 
basis of charge. Half an ounce is reckoned a single 
letter, and every half ounce more, or a fraction of it, is 
counted as another. Three cents is the rate of a single let- 
ter, and an addition of three cents more for every addi- 
tional half ounce or fraction of it. The uniformity 
consists in disregarding distance in the computation of 
the rate charged for transportation. The charges for 
carrying newspapers and other printed matter, were 
also greatly reduced from former rates. Formerly, 
under the old system, postage might be pre-paid, or 
paid upon delivery of the letter, and the govern- 
ment lost the postage on all letters never called for. 
But under the present system, all mailable matter, 
except newspapers and regular periodical publications 
sent to subscribers, must be pre-paid by postage stamps. 

FRANKING PRIVILEGE. 

9. This means the right to send letters, documents, 
&c, through the post office free, or without paying 
postage therefor. This privilege was so abused that 
the law was changed, and restricted to a certain class 
of officers of the government when sending or receiv- 
ing official communications which relate to the busi- 



62 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

ness of their respective offices, and to the President, 
Vice President, Members of Congress, and chiefs of 
the several Executive departments. Petitions to Con- 
gress may also be franked. 

DEAD LETTERS. 

10. Dead letters are those which are never called for 
at the respective offices where sent. The law directs 
that they shall be advertised three weeks in some news- 
paper in or near the post office where the letter is ; and 
if not called for in three months thereafter, they must 
be sent to the General Post Office at Washington, as 
dead letters. There they are opened, and if they con- 
tain money or valuable papers, they are returned to 
the writers, and the money and papers are kept at the 
General Post Office, where an account of them is kept, 
and will be returned to the owners whenever they call 
for them. 

As in the other departments, we append at the end 
of this chapter, a list of all the heads of this department, 
from the first down to the present time. 

Without wearying the reader with a detailed state- 
ment of the condition of the department for every year 
since its establishment, we give the number of offices, 
and the number of miles of post-roads as they were every 
tenth year. This will be found sufficient to show the 
wonderful increase of business in this branch of the 
public service since 1790, the first year after the gov- 
ernment was £ut into operation. 



POSTMASTER GENERAL. 63 

In 1790 there were but 75 post offices, and 1,875 m. of post-roads 



1800 
1810 


a 
a 


903 
2,300 


u 
(( 


20,817 
36,400 


u 
a 


1820 
1830 


u 
u 


4,500 
8,450 


a 
it 


72,492 
115,176 


it 


1840 
1850 

1860 


a 
it 

a 


13,463 
18,417 

28,498 


it 
It 

a 


155,739 

178,672 
240,594 


it 

it 



POSTMASTERS GENERAL. 

Samuel Osgood, Mass., Sept. 26, 1789. 
Timothy Pickering, Mass., Aug. 12, 1791. 
Joseph Habersham, Ga., Feb. 25, 1795. 
Gideon Granger, Ct., Nov. 28, 1801. 
Eeuben J. Meigs, O., March 17, 1814. 
John McLean, O., June 25, 1823. 
William J. Barry, Ky., March 9, 1829. 
Amos Kendall, Ky., March 1, 1835. 
John M. Mies, Ct., May 18, 1840. 
Francis Granger, K Y., March 6, 1841. 
Charles A. Wickliff, Ky., Sept. 13, 1841. 
Cave Johnson, Tenn., March 5, 1845. 
Jacob Collamer, Vt,, March 7, 1849. 
Nathan K. Hall, 1ST. Y., July 20, 1850. 
S. D. Hubbard, Ct., Aug. 31, 1852. 
James Campbell, Pa-, March 5, 1853. 
Aaron Y. Brown, Tenn., March 6, 1857- 
Joseph Holt, Ky., March 14, 1859. 
Horatio King, Jan. 1, 1861. 
Montgomery Blair, Md., March 7, 1861. 
William Dcnnison, O., Oct. 1, 1864. 
Alexander W. Randall, Wis., July 15, 1S6S. 
J. A. Creswell, March 5, 1869. 



64 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEKNMENT. 

CHAPTER Xn. 
Attorney General. 

The Attorney General of the United States is one of 
the high officers of the government, and is a very re- 
sponsible one. The law by which the office of Attor- 
ney General was created we find in an act passed as 
far back as 1789, at the first session ever held by Con- 
gress; in which his duties are thus defined: "Whose 
duty it shall be to prosecute and conduct all suits in 
the Supreme Court, in which the United States shall 
be concerned; and to give his advice and opinion upon 
questions of law, when required by the President of the 
United States ; or when requested by the heads of de- 
partments, touching any matters that may concern 
their departments.' 

By an act passed in 1861, he is charged with the 
general superintendence of all the Attorneys and Mar- 
shals in all the Judicial Districts in the United States 
and Territories, as to the manner of discharging their 
duties. 

He is appointed by the President and Senate, and 
holds his office at the pleasure of the President. 

He is a member of the Cabinet, and now receives a 
salary of eight thousand dollars per year. He has an 
assistant, and clerks to aid him in the discharge of his 
duties. 

His office is in Washington. 

This, with the preceding six chapters, contains a 
brief account of what are properly called Executive De- 



ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 65 

partments of the government; sub-departments are 
properly termed Bureaus, while the three great divis- 
ions into which the Constitution divides the govern- 
mental powers, viz. : the Legislative, Executive, and 
Judicial, should be denominated branches. 

ATTORNEYS-GENERAL. 

Edmund Randolph, Va., Sept. 26, 1789. 
William Bradford, Pa., June 27, 1794. 
Charles Lee, Va., Dec. 10, 1795. 
T. Parsons, Mass., Feb. 20, 1800. 
Levi Lincoln, Mass., March 5, 1801. 
Robert Smith, Md., March 2, 1805. 
John Breckenridge, Ky., Dec. 1806. 
Csesar A. Rodney *DeL, Jan. 20, 1807. 
William Pinckney, Md., Dec. 11, 1811. 
Richard Rush, Pa., Feb. 10, 1814. 
William Wirt, Md., Dec. 16, 1817. 
John McPherson Berrian, Ga., Mar. 9, 1829. 
Roger B. Taney, Md., July 20, 1831. 
Benjamin F. Butler, N. Y., Nov. 15, 1833. 
Felix Grundy, Term., July 7, 1838. 
Henry D. Griffin, Pa., Jan. 11, 1840. 
John* J. Crittenden, Ky., Mar. 5, 1841. 
Hugh S. Legare, S. C, Sept. 13, 1841. 
John Nelson, Md., July 1, 1843. 
John Y. Mason, Va., Mar 5, 1845. 
Nathan Clifford, Me., Oct. 16, 1846. 
Isaac Toucey, Ct, Jan. 21, 1848. 
Reverdy Johnson, Md., Mar. 7, 1849. 
John J. Crittenden, Ky., July 20, 1850. 
Caleb Cushing, Mass.," Mar. 5, 1853. 
Jeremiah S. Black, Pa., Mar. 6, 1857. 
Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., Dec. 14, 1860, 
Edward Bates, Mo., Mar. 5, 1861. 
James Speed, Ky., Dec, 1864. 
Henry Stanberry, O., July, 1866. 
William M. Evarts, N. Y., 1868. 
Eben E. Hoar, March 5, 1869. 



66 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER Xni. 
The Cabinet. 

1. The Cabinet is composed of- the Secretaries of 
State, War, Navy, Treasury, and Interior, together 
with the Postmaster General and the Attorney Gene- 
ral, seven in all. They are ex-officio members of the 
Cabinet, and the President's advisers. All of them are 
nominated to their respective offices, as Secretaries, &c, 
by him ; but cannot act unless by the consent of the 
Senate. In this respect they are like all other officers 
appointed by the President and Senate, although in 
common parlance it is often said the President chooses 
his own Cabinet. This might seem to mean that he, 
and he alone chooses them, without advice or consul- 
tation with any body. 

2. The Senate rarely, if ever, refuses consent to the 
nominations of the President for these appointments ; 
for it is conceded that without some extraordinary ob- 
jection, such as notorious bad character or unfitness for 
the position, the President should have the selection 
of his own advisers. 

3. When they meet with the President to consult 
with him on the affairs and admnistration of the gov- 
ernment, it is called "a Cabinet meeting." Our for- 
eign affairs and relations with other governments form 
the subjects of much of their deliberations; in England, 
and in most of the countries in Europe, the men who 



THE CABINET. 67 

fill these positions in those governments, are called 
Ministers. In England they also hold seats in Parlia- 
ment, and debate and vote like other members; but in 
the United States government the members of the 
Cabinet neither have seats in Congress, nor take any 
part in its proceedings. As Secretaries, and heads of 
their respective departments, they annually report to 
Congress, what has been done in, and what is the 
state and condition of their departments. They also 
suggest or recommend to Congress such legislation as 
in their judgment is required for that branch of the 
government under their supervision. 

4. It is therefore easily understood that the Cabinet 
is not a body of officials chosen as the advisers of the 
President ; and that that is their only duty. Not so ; 
their membership in the Cabinet only grows out of the 
offices or places they hold in the government. The 
moment any one ceases to hold that office, that mo- 
ment he ceases to be a member of the Cabinet. 

5. To the foregoing we will add a little of the history 
of the Cabinet. Under Washington's administration it 
consisted of but three members, viz. : the Secretary of 
State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary 
of War. There was no Secretary of the Navy during 
his administration. The department of the Navy was 
not established until 1798, when John Adams was 
President. Under his administration it consisted of 
four members, for the Secretary of the Navy was ad- 
ded, and so it continued down to Jackson's adminis- 
tration (182D— 1837,) when the Postmaster General 
was made a member; so that it consisted of live mem- 



68 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

bers. It stood at that number until John Tyler be- 
came the acting President, from the death of President 
Harrison, 1841 — 1845, when the Attorney General was 
made a member ; and in 1849, on the third of March, 
the last day of Mr. Polk's administration, the Depart- 
ment of the Interior was established, and the office of 
''Secretary of the Interior " was created, and he also 
was made a member of the Cabinet. Under President 
Taylor's administration, which commenced on the* 
fourth of March, 1849, and since, the number of Cab- 
inet officers has been seven. Whether it has reached 
its maximum or not, depends on what Congress may 
do hereafter in creating other great departments of 
government. If they do so, their heads, or Secretaries 
will probably be added to the Cabinet. 

6. As a piece of historical information, and for the 
convenience of ready reference, we here insert the 
names of those who have been members of the Cabi- 
net, under all the administrations, from Washington's 
(the first), down to the present year (1869) ; and for 
the purpose of showing who was the Vice President 
with each President, we insert his name also, although 
he is never a member of the Cabinet. By this it will 
be seen that several persons occupied the same posi- 
tions under the same administrations ; and that upon 
every change of the heads of departments, the Cabinet 
was changed. 



THE CABINET. 6U 

FIRST ADMINISTRATION, FROM 1789 TO 1797 — 8 YEARS. 

George Washington, Va., President. 
John Adams, Mass., Vice President. 

CABINET. 

Thomas Jefferson, Va., Secretary of State. 
Edmund Randolph, Va., u ' " 
Timothy Pickering, Mass., " " 

Alexander Hamilton, K. Y., Secretary of the Treasury. 
Oliver Wolcott, Conn. " " " 

Timothy Pickering, Mass., Secretary of War. 
James McHenry, Md., 
Henry Knox, Mass., 



a a a 






SECOND ADMINISTRATION, 1797 TO 1801 — 4 YEARS. 

John Adams, Mass., President. 
Thomas Jefferson, Va., Vice President. 

CABINET. 

Timothy Pickering, Mass., Secretary of State. 
John Marshall, Va., " « " 

Oliver Wolcott, Ct., Secretary of the Treasury. 
Samuel Dexter, Mass., " " •' 

James McHenry, Md., Secretary of War. 
Samuel Dexter, Mass., 
Roger Griswold, 
George Cabot, Mass., Secretary of the Navy. 
Benjamin Stoddert, Md., " " 

THIRD ADMINISTRATION, 1801 TO 1809 — 8 YEARS. 

Thomas Jefferson, Va., President. 
Aaron Burr, r?. Y., Vice President. 
George Clinton, K Y., " 

CABINET. 

James Madison, Va., Secretary of State. 
Samuel Dexter, Mass., Secretary of the Treasury. 
Albert Gallatin, Pa., " ' " " 



70 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Henry Dearborn, Mass., Secretary of War. 
Benjamin Stoddert, Md., Secretary of the Navy. 
Robert Smith, Md., " " " 

FOURTH ADMINISTRATION, 1809 TO 1817 — 8 YEARS,, 

James Madison, Va., President. 
George Clinton, N. Y., Yice President. 
Elb ridge Gerry, Mass., " 

CABINET. 

Robert Smith, Md., Secretary of State. 
James Monroe, Va., " " 

Albert Gallatin, Pa., Secretary of the Treasury. 
George W. Campbell, Tenn., " " 

Alexander J. Dallas, Pa., " " 

William Eustis, Mass., Secretary of War. 
John Armstrong, N. Y., " " 

James Monroe, Ya., " " 

William H. Crawford, Ga. " " 

Paul Hamilton, S. C, Secretary of the Navy. 
William Jones, Pa., " « " 

B. W. Crowningshield, Mass., " " 



FIFTH ADMINISTRATION, 1817 TO 1825 — 8 YEARS. 

James Monroe, Ya., President. 

Daniel D. Tompkins, N. Y., Yice President. 

CABINET. 

John Q. Adams, Mass., Secretary of State. 

William H. Crawford, Ga., Secretary of the Treasury. 

[saac Shelby, Ky., Secretary of War. 

John C. Calhoun, S. C, " 

B. W. Crowningshield, Mass., Secretary of the Navy. 

Smith ThompsoV, N Y., " " 

Samuel L. Southard, K J., " " 



THE CABINET. 71 

SIXTH ADMINISTRATION, 1825 TO 1829 4 YEARS. 

John Q. Adams, Mass., President. 
John C. Calhoun, S. C, Vice President. 

CABINET. 

Henry Clay, Ky., Secretary of State. 

Richard Rush, Pa., Secretary of the Treasury. 

James Barbour, Va., Secretary of War. 

Peter B. Porter, K Y., " " 

Samuel L. Southard, N. J., Secretary of the Navy. 

SEVENTH ADMINISTRATION, 1829 TO 1837 — 8 YEARS. 

Andrew Jackson, Tenn., President. 
John C. Calhoun, S. C, Vice President. 
Martin Van Buren, K Y., u 

CABINET. 

Martin Yan Buren, N". Y., Secretary of State. 
Edward Livingston, La., " " 

Louis McLane, Del., " " 

John Forsyth, Geo. " " 

Samuel D. Ingham, Pa,, Secretary of the Treasury. 
Louis McLane, Del., " " " 

"William J. Duane, Pa., " " " 

Roger B. Taney, Md. " " " 

Levi Woodbury, K H. " « " 

John H. Eaton, Tenn., Secretary of War. 
Lewis Cass, Mich. " " 

Benjamin F. Butler, K Y., " " 

John Branch, JN". C, Secretary of the Navy. 
Levi Woodbury, K II., " " " 

Mahlon Dickerson, K J., " " " 

Postmasters General, and for the first time considered 
members of the Cabinet. 
John McLean, O. 
William F. Barry, Ky. 
Amos Kendall, Ky. 



72 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

EIGHTH ADMINISTRATION, 1837 TO 1841 4 YEARS. 

Martin Van Buren, E". Y., President. 
Richard M. Johnson, Ky., Vice President. 

CABINET. 

John Forsyth, Geo., Secretary of State. 

Levi Woodbury, N. H., Secretary of the Treasury. 

Joel P. Poinsett, S. C, Secretary of War. 

Mahlon Dickerson, "N. J., Secretary of the Navy. 

James K Paulding, K Y., " ' " " 

Amos Kendall, Ky., Postmaster General. 

John M. Mies, Ct., " " 

NINTH ADMINISTRATION, MARCH 4, 1841, TO APRIL 4, 1841 e 

William Henry Harrison, O., President. 

John Tyler, Va., Vice President. 
Daniel Webster, Mass., Secretary of State. 
Thomas Ewing, 0., Secretary of the Treasury. 
John Bell, Tenn., Secretary of War. 
George E. Badger, K. C, Secretary of the Navy. 
Gideon Granger, ET. Y., Postmaster General. 

TENTH ADMINISTRATION, APRIL 6, 1841, TO MARCH 4, 

1845. 
John Tyler, Va., (acting) President by death of 
Harrison. 

CABINET. 

Daniel Webster, Mass., Secretary of State. 
Abel P. Upsher, Va., ' " " 

John C. Calhoun, S. C, " " 

Thomas Ewing, 0., Secretary of the Treasury. 
Walter Seward, Pa., " " " 

John C. Spencer, K Y, " " " 

George M. Bibb, Ky., " " 

John Bell, Tenn., Secretary of War. 
John C. Spencer, K Y., " " 

James M. Porter, Pa., " " 

William Wilkins. Pa., u 



THE CABINET. 73 

George E. Badger, H". C, Secretary of the Navy. 
Abel P. Upsher, Va., " " " 

David Heushaw, Mass., " ■" " 

G. W. Gilmer, Va., " " " 

John Y. Mason, Va., " " " 

Hugh S. Legare, S. C, Attorney-General. 
John Nelson, Md., " " 

Francis G. Granger, N*. Y., Postmaster General. 
Charles A. Wickliffe, Ky., 

ELEVENTH ADMINISTRATION — MARCH 4, 1845, TO 
MARCH 4, 1849 — 4 YEARS. 

James K. Polk, Tenn., President. 
George M. Dallas, Pa., Vice President. 

CABINET. 

James Buchanan, Pa., Secretary of State. 

Robert J. Walker. Miss., Secretary of the Treasury. 

William L. Marcy, N". Y., Secretary of War. 

George Bancroft, Mass., Secretary of the Navy. 

John"Y. Mason, Va., " " " 

Cave Johnson, Tenn., Postmaster General. 

John Y. Mason, Va., Attorney General. 

Nathan Clifford, Me., 

Isaac Toucey, Ct, " " 

TWELFTH ADMINISTRATION — MARCH 4, 1849, TO JULY 
10, 1850 — 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS. 

Zachary Taylor, La., President. 
Millard Fillmore, N. Y., Vice President. 

CABINET. 

John M. Clayton, Del., Secretary of State. 
George W. Crawford, Geo., Secretary of War. 
William M. Meredith, Pa., Sec. of the Treasury. 
William B. Preston, Va., Secretary of the Navy, 
Thomas Ewing, Ohio, Secretary of the Interior. 
Jacob Collamer, Vt., Postmaster General. 
Reverdy Johnson, Md., Attorney General, 



74 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

THIRTEENTH ADMINISTRATION, JULY 10, 1850, TO MARCH 
4, 1853 — 2 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS. 

Millard Fillmore, (acting) President, by death of Tay- 
lor — no Yice President. 

CABINET. 

Daniel Webster, Mass., Secretary of State. 
Thomas Corwin, Ohio, Secretary of the Treasury. 
Charles M. Conrad, La., Secretary of War. 
Wm. A. Graham, K". C, Secretary of the Navy. 
Alex. H. H. Stuart, Ya. Secretary of the Interior. 
Nathan K. Hall, N. Y., Postmaster General. 
John J. Crittenden, Ky., Attorney General. - 

FOURTEENTH ADMINISTRATION, MARCH 4, 1853, TQ 
MARCH 4, 1857. 

Franklin Pierce, N. H., President. 

Wm. R. King, of Ala., who was elected Yice Pres- 
ident with Mr. Pierce, but died before he took his 
seat ; and there was no Yice President during Pierce's 
administration. 

CABINET. 

William L. Marcy, 1ST. Y., Secretary of State. 
James Guthrie, Ky., Secretary of the Treasury. 
Jefferson Davis, Miss., Secretary of War. 
J. C. Dobbin, K C, Secretary of the Navy. 
Eobert McClelland, Mich., Secretary of the Interior. 
James Campbell, Pa., Postmaster General. 
Caleb Cushing, Mass., Attorney General. 

FIFTEENTH ADMINISTRATION — MARCH 4, 1857, TO 
MARCH 4, 1861. 

James Buchanan, Pa., President. 
John C. Breckenridge, Yice President. 



THE CABINET. 75 

CABINET. 

Lewis Cass, Mich., and Jeremiah S. Black, Pa., Sec- 
retaries of State. 

Howell Cobb, Ga., Philip F. Thomas, and John A. 
Dix, K". Y., Secretaries of the Treasury. 

John B. Floyd, Va., and Joseph Holt, Ky., Secreta- 
ries of War. 

Isaac Toucey, Ct., Secretary of the Navy. 

Jacob Thompson, Miss., Secretary of the Interior, 

Aaron Y. Brown, Tenn., Joseph Holt, Ky., and Ho- 
ratio King, Postmasters General. 

Jeremiah S. Black, Pa., and Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., 
Attorneys General. 



SIXTEENTH ADMINISTRATION, MARCH 4, 1861, TO APRIL 12, 
1865 — 4 YEARS, 1 MONTH, AND 8 DAYS. 

Abraham Lincoln, 111., President. 

Hannibal Hamlin, Me., Yice-President, first term, 
and Andrew Johnson, Tenn., Yice-President, second 
term. 

CABINET. 

William H. Seward, N". Y., Secretary of State. 

Salmon P. Chase, Ohio, Wm. P. Fessenden, Me., 
Hugh McCulloch, Ind., Secretaries of the Treasury. 

Simon Cameron, Pa., Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., Sec- 
retaries of War. 

Gideon Welles, Conn., Secretary of the Navy. 

John P. Upsher, Ind., Secretary of the Interior. 

Montgomery Blair, Md., William Dennison, O., 
Postmasters General. 

Edward Bates, Mo., James Speed, Ky., Attorneys 
General. 



76 OUTLINES U. -S. GOVERNMENT. 

SEVENTEENTH ADMINISTRATION, APRIL 15, 1865, TO MARCH 
4, 1869. 

Andrew Johnson, acting President. 
No Yice President. 

CABINET. 

"William H. Seward, K". Y., Secretary of State. 

Hugh McCulloch, Ind., Secretary of the Treasury, 

Edwin M. Stanton, Pa., Ulysses S. Grant, 111., and 
J. M. Schofield, Secretaries of "War. 

Gideon Wells, Conn., Secretary of the Navy. 

James Harlan, Iowa, Orville H. Browning, 111., Sec- 
retaries of the Interior. 

James Speed, Ky., Henry Stanberry, Ohio, Wm. M. 
Evarts, N. Y., Attorneys General. 

William Dennision, Ohio, Alexander W. Eandall, 
Wis., Postmasters General. 

EIGHTEENTH ADMINISTRATION, MARCH 4, 1869. 

Ulysses S. Grant, 111., President. 
Schuyler Colfax, Ind., Yice-President. 

CABINET. 

*Elihu B. Washburne, HI., Secretary of State. 

Hamilton Fish, K Y., " " 

f Alexander T. Stewart, UST. Y., Secretary of Treasury. 

George S. Boutwell, Mass., " " 

John A. Rawlins, Secretary of War. 

Wm. T. Sherman, " « 

Wm. W. Belknap, " " 

Adolph E. Borie, Pa., Secretary of the Navy. 

Geo. M. Robeson, " " 

Jacob D. Cox, Ohio, Secretary of the Interior. 

J. A. J. Cresswell, Md., Postmaster General. 

Eben Rockwood Hoar, Mass., Attorney General. 

* Kesigned a few days after his appointment. 

f Disqualified on account of his mercantile pursuits. A law of 
1792 forbids a merchant from accepting the position. 



UNITED STATES COURTS. 77 



CHAPTER XIV. 
United States Courts. 

1. Under this caption we need make but a few gen- 
eral remarks; for, under the appropriate titles of the dif- 
ferent kinds of courts, we have treated of each, with 
considerable detail. The legal tribunals created by 
acts of Congress, and consequently called United States 
Courts, are known by the names of the United States 
Supreme Court, the Circuit Courts, the District Courts, 
and the Court of Claims. To these must be added the 
local courts in the District of Columbia, and the Terri- 
torial Courts. The former 'are permanent institutions, 
as much so as the Circuit or District Courts. But the 
latter are temporary; designed to last only during the 
time the Territorial government lasts; for when the 
Territory is admitted as a State, its former government 
ceases to exist; and as the courts are a part of the gov- 
ernment, they also pass away, - and State courts are cre- 
ated in their places. 

2. These brief remarks are merely introductory to 
the four following chapters, in which the reader will 
find a fuller account of the United States courts ; and 
we hope a better understanding of that branch of the 
government denominated the Judiciary. 



78 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEKNMENT. 



CHAPTER XV. 
Supreme Court of the United States. 

1. We have before stated that the government of the 
United States was divided into three branches or 
great departments, the Legislative, the Executive and 
the Judiciary. The two former we have already de- 
scribed. We come now to the third, which although 
the last, is by no means the least part of the great ma- 
chine by which the people are governed, and their 
rights protected. When our government is spoken 
of, in a figurative sense, as an "arch," the Judicial 
Department is very appropriately styled, "the key 
stone of the arch;" for as the arch would fall without 
the key stone, so would our form of government 
fall without the Judicial branch ; for in all cases of dis- 
pute or disagreement as to what the Constitution means,- 
or how the laws should be construed and interpreted, 
we look to the Judicial decisions for the settlement 
of all such questions. 

2. And especially do we look to the decisions of the 
Supreme Court of the United States ; for it is the high- 
est tribunal in the nation. Its decisions are final, for 
there is no superior tribunal to which questions or 
causes can be taken ; and when it has, in due form, de- 
clared how the Constitution must be understood, or 
how the laws should be interpreted and applied, this 
decision settles the matter and becomes the law of the 
land, as to the questions involved in the decision. 



SUPREME COURT. 7^ 

3. This court at the present time has one Chief Jus- 
tice and nine Associate Justices; all appointed by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen- 
ate. They are appointed for life, or during good behav- 
ior; they may, however, be impeached for bribery or 
other high crimes, and then removed from office. They 
may also resign ; for there is no power which can compel 
any man to hold office ; but if they conduct themselves 
properly and choose to retain their offices, there is no 
power by which they can be removed, except the power 
of death. The Constitution itself makes this povi- 
sion, in order that the judges may be removed as far as 
possible from the influence of party politics. They 
have nothing to fear from the success or defeat of any 
political party. It is therefore expected that their de- 
cisions will not be biased by party or political consider- 
ations; and it may not be amiss to say that the provis- 
ion for keeping the judges of the United States Courts 
in office for life, meets with almost universal approba- 
tion; and has caused many to hope that the States 
would alter their Constitutions and adopt the same 
plan ; believing it to be the surest way of preserving a 
pure and independent Judiciary, on which depend the 
rights and liberties of every citizen of the common- 
wealth. 

4. This court holds but one term in a year, which 
commences on the first Monday of December, and sits 
until it has disposed of the business before it. Its ses- 
sions are always held at Washington, the capital of the 
nation ; there it has access to the Congressional and 
Law Libraries, and to all the departments and records 
of the government when necessary. 



80 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

There is a class of causes which may be commenced 
in this court* In these cases it has original jurisdic- 
tion. They are such as affect ambassadors, other pub- 
lic ministers, and consuls ; and those in which a State 
shall be a party. In other cases it has only appellate ju- 
risdiction. The greater part of its business is to hear 
and determine appeals from inferior courts, mainly 
from the United States Circuit Courts ; and in some 
instances from the highest State courts. 

5. It has not only original, but exclusive jurisdiction 
in causes where a State is a party, and when proceed- 
ings or suits against ambassadors, or other public min- 
isters or their servants, are instituted. Its power to try 
appeals from lower courts, called its appellate jurisdic- 
tion, gives it the position of the highest court in the 
nation. 

It has power also to restrain or to prohibit proceed- 
ings in the United States District Courts, when acting 
as courts of Admiralty ; or in cases of maritime juris- 
diction. The judges of this court hold the Circuit 
Courts, and allot themselves among the judicial cir- 
cuits. The Chief Justice receives $6,500 per year sal- 
ary, and t«he Associate Justices each $6,000. 

The practice and rules of procedure in this court 
are very similar to those of the Courts of Chancery 
and King's Bench, in England. Issues of fact are tried 
by jury, the same as in other courts. 

OFFICERS OF THE COURT. 

6. The officers of this tribunal are the Judges, the 
Attorney General, a clerk, a crier, and a reporter. The 
three last named are appointed by the court. It is the 



SUPREME COURT. 81 

duty of the Marshal of the District of Columbia to at- 
tend this court, and to serve process issuing from it. 

An Attorney or Counselor-at-Law, to be admitted 
to practice in this court, must have been a practitioner 
in the Supreme Court of the State where he lives. 

7. The following are the names of all the Chief Jus- 
tices of the Supreme Court of the United States, from 
its establishment to the present time; with the dates of 
their appointments, and the States from which they 
were appointed : 

John Jay, K Y., Sept. 26, 1789. 
John Eutledge, S. C., July 1, 1795. 
William Cushing, Mass., Jan. 27, 1796. 
Oliver Ellsworth, Ct, March 4, 1796. 
John Jay, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1800. 
John Marshall, Va., Jan. 27, 1801. 
Eoger B. Taney, Md., Dec. 28, 1835. 
Salmon P. Chase, 0. 

8. The following are the names of the Associate Jus- 
tices, with the dates of their appointments and the 
States from which tney were appointed: 

John Eutledge, S. C, 1789. 
William Cushing, Mass., 1789. 
Eobert H. Harrison, Md., 1789. 
James Wilson, Pa., 1789. 
John Blair, Va., 1789. 
James Iredell, K C 1790. 
Thomas Johnson, Md., 1791. 
William Patterson, K Y., 1793. 
Samuel Chase, Md., 1796. 
Bushrod Washington, Va., 1798. 
William Johnson, S. C, 1804. 
Brockholst Livingston, K Y., 1807. 
Thomas Todd, Va., 1807. 



82 OUTLINES OF U..S. GOVERNMENT. 

Levi Lincoln,* Mass., 1811. 
John Q. Adams,* Mass., 1811. 
Gabriel Duvall, Md., 1811. 
Joseph Story, Mass., 1811. 
Smith Thompson, K Y., 1823. 
Eobert Trimble, Ky., 1823. 
John McLean, 0., 1829. 
Henry Baldwin, Pa., 1830. 
James M. Wayne, Ga., 1835. 
Philip Barbour, Va., 1836. 
John McKinley, Ala., 1837. 
John Catron, Tenn., 1837. 
Peter V. Daniel, Va., 1841. 
Samuel Nelson, N. Y., 1845. 
Levi "Woodbury, K H., 1845. 
Eobert C. Grier, Va., 1846. 
Benjamin E. Curtis, Mass., 1851. 
John A. Campbell, Ala., 1853. 
Nathan Clifford, Me., 1858. 
Noah Swayne, O., 1862. 
Samuel Miller, Iowa, 1862. 
Stephen J. Field, Cal. 

* Declined the appointment. 



cmcyiTS. 83 



CHAPTER XVI. 
Circuits and Circuit Courts. 

1. In the last chapter we gave an account of the 
United States Supreme Court. We now come to the 
United States Circuit Courts, the next in dignity, 
power, and jurisdiction. Unlike the Supreme Court, 
which, as stated, is always held in "Washington, the 
Circuit Courts are held in every State, at such times 
and places as Congress by law directs. It would add 
some interest and utility to our work if they were in- 
serted here, so as to show when and where these courts 
are held. But we omit this, because they are so often 
changed, that what is now correct might not remain so 
after another session of Congress. These changes are 
made to accommodate the people in the State, or the 
judges of the court. As now arranged, the whole of 
the States are divided into nine circuits, each circuit 
comprising several States; some more and some less, 
according to the size and population of the States com- 
prised in a circuit. Then the court is held in each 
State in the circuit. This arrangement is made in order 
to bring these courts within convenient reach of all the 
people in every part of the country. 

2. The Circuit Courts are held by the Judges of the 
Supreme Court, who allot the circuits among them- 
selves, and then travel each through his own circuit, 
until he has visited and held a session in every State 
which lies within it. A Judge of the Supreme Court 



84 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

is the presiding and supreme magistrate in every Cir- 
cuit Court, but the Judge of the District Court of the 
district in which the Circuit is held, sits with the Judge 
of the Supreme Court, as Associate Justice. 

JURISDICTION. 

3. These Courts have both original and appellate 
jurisdiction. Causes may be appealed from the District 
Courts to the Circuit. They also have concurrent juris- 
diction with thv3 State courts, where the matter in dispute 
exceeds the sum of $500, and the United States are 
plaintiffs; or where an alien is a party, or where the suit is 
between citizens of different States. They have exclu- 
sive jurisdiction in all cases of crimes against the laws 
of the United States, except where the law especially 
confers the power on other courts. It extends to all 
cases under the revenue laws of the United States. 

4. There is also a certain class of cases, (too tedious 
to be described here in detail), which may be removed 
from State and from District Courts, into these courts, 
and be tried and determined in the same manner as if 
they had been commenced here. 

The officers of Circuit Courts are, first, the Judges ; 
second, the District Attorney of the district in which 
the court is held; third, the Marshal of the district; 
and fourth, a Clerk, who is appointed by the court. 

5. It may be interesting, and perhaps useful to know 
how the different circuits are formed, and what States 
lie in each. They have been from time to time in- 
creased in number, as the number of the States in- 
creased. In some cases States have been at first placed 
in one circuit, and afterwards detached and placed in 
another. 



CIRCUITS. 85 

6. By the Acts of 1862 and 1863, the circuits were 
arranged as follows : — 

First Circuit — Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine 
and New Hampshire, (by Act of 1820.) 

Second Circuit — Vermont, Connecticut, New York, 
(Act of 1837.) 

Third Circuit— New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

Fourth Circuit — Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and 
North Carolina. 

Fifth Circuit — South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, 
Mississippi and Florida. 

Sixth Circuit— Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee. 

Seventh Circuit — Ohio and Indiana. 

Eighth Circuit — Michigan and Illinois. 

Ninth Circuit — Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas and 
Minnesota. 

Tenth Circuit — California and Oregon. 

But in 1866 this arrangement of the circuits was 
again changed; and this was done, we suppose, to 
make the circuits approximate nearer to the number 
of Associate Justices, as reduced from nine to six by 
the same act ; for, it was then enacted that hereafter 
there should be no more Associate Justices of the 
Supreme Court appointed, until they were reduced 
(by death or resignation), to six. 

7. The circuits by this last act were reduced to nine, 
and were arranged as follows : 

First and Second Circuits to remain as before. 
The Third was matte up of the States of Pennsyl- 
vania, New Jersey and Delaware. 



86 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

The Fourth, of Maryland, Virginia, "West Virginia, 
North Carolina and South Carolina. 

The Fifth, of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missis- 
sippi, Louisiana and Texas. 

The Sixth, of Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee. 

The Seventh, of Indiana, Illinois and "Wisconsin. 

The Eighth, of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas 
and Arkansas. 

The Ninth, of California, Oregon and Nevada. 

We have inserted both of these circuit arrange- 
ments, because one new State (Nebraska), has been 
admitted since the act passed. Others will soon come 
in, and very probably the old number of circuits and 
judges will be restored. 






JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. 87 



CHAPTER XVIL 
Judicial Districts, and District Courts. 

1. "We come now to the lowest grade of United 
States courts, excepting the local courts in the District 
of Columbia, and the Territorial Courts. A United 
States District Court is held by a District Judge in 
every district. Every State constitutes at least one 
district, several of the larger States are divided into 
two, and some into three. There are at the present 
time fifty-nine Judicial Districts, and consequently the 
same number of District Judges, District Attorneys, 
District Clerks and Marshals. The Judges, Attorneys 
and Marshals are all appointed by the President and 
Senate; the Clerks by the respective courts. 

TERMS. 

2. By the law of 1789 every District Judge was re- 
quired to hold four sessions a year, at such times and 
in such places as Congress directed. This is done to 
this day in a great majority of the States ; but by later 
laws, in some of the districts only two or three ses- 
sions a year are required. 

JURISDICTION. 

3. These courts have exclusive jurisdiction in all 
admiralty and maritime causes. These relate to mar- 
itime contracts, and to crimes against the laws of the 
United States, committed on the sea and on navigable 



88 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

lakes and rivers. It embraces in this country all con- 
tracts respecting vessels and navigation ; such as char- 
tering, repairing, and fitting them out, seamen's wages, 
&c. They have in some cases concurrent jurisdiction 
with the Circuit Courts, in cases of piracy, and exclu- 
sive cognizance of cases where seizures are made for a 
violation of the revenue laws, or laws relating to im- 
posts and navigation ; and causes against consuls and 
vice consuls where the amount claimed does not exceed 
$100. In short, they have concurrent jurisdiction 
with the Circuit Courts, of all crimes against the laws 
of the United States, the punishment of which is not 
capital. The trial of issues of fact in all causes except 
civil causes of Admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, 
must be by jury. 

4. Appeals are taken from these courts to the Cir- 
cuit Courts. The judges are appointed like those of 
the Supreme Court, for life, or during good behaviour, 
and receive various amounts as salary, some more and 
some less, according to the amount of services to be 
performed in their respective districts. 

5. "When vessels are captured in time of war, either 
by the public armed vessels or by private armed ships, 
the facts and circumstances of the capture must be 
brought before a United States Circuit or District 
Court for adjudication ; when the vessel and cargo are 
either condemned as a prize, or restored to their 
owners. When either of these courts adjudicate such 
cases, it is called a Prize Court. 

6. For the same reason given for showing the com- 
position of the Judicial Circuits in a condensed form, 



JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. 



89 



we will here give the number of Judicial Districts in 
each State as they now exist, and the total number in 
all the States. They are as follows : — 



Alabama, 3. 
Arkansas, 2. 
California, 2. 
Connecticut, 1. 
Delaware, 1. 
Florida, 2. 
Georgia, 2. 
Illinois, 2. 
Indiana, 1. 
Iowa, 1. 
Kansas, 1. 
Kentucky, 1. 
Louisiana, 2. 
Maine, 1. 
Maryland, 1. 
Massachusetts, 1. 
Michigan, 2. 
Minnesota, 1. 
District of Columbia, 1. 



Mississippi, 2. 
Missouri, 2. 
Nevada, 1. 
New Hampshire, 1. 
New Jersey, 1. 
New York, 3. 
North Carolina, 3. 
Nebraska, 1. 
Ohio, 2. 
Oregon, 1. 
Pennsylvania, 2. 
Rhode Island, 1. 
South Carolina, 2. 
Tennessee, 3. 
Texas, 2. 
Vermont, 1. 
Virginia, 1. 
West Virginia, 1. 
Wisconsin, 1. 



Total, 59. 



90 OUTLINES IT. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTEE XVHI. 

Court of Claims. 

1. This court was established by act of Congress 
in 1855. A brief extract from the law itself, will best 
explain the object of its creation, its jurisdiction, 
powers and duties. The law reads thus : " A court 
shall be established to be called the Court of Claims, 
to consist of three judges, to be appointed by the 
President and Senate, and to hold their offices during 
good behavior ; and the said court shall hear and de- 
termine all claims founded upon any law of Congress, 
or upon any regulation of an Executive department, 
or upon any contract express or implied, with the gov- 
ernment of the United States ; which may be sug- 
gested to it by a petition filed therein ; and also all 
claims which may be referred to said court by either 
house of Congress.'' 

2. On the third of March, 1863, the jurisdiction of 
this court was enlarged, and two additional judges ap- 
pointed, (making ~five,) from the whole number of 
which the President was authorized to appoiut one a 
Chief Justice for said court. 

3. The mode of commencing proceeding before this 
tribunal is by petition ; in which the claimant must 
fully set forth his claim, how it arose, its amount, and 
the parties interested therein. After the case has been 
heard and determined, the court reports to Congress 
what its decision is, and if favorable to the claimant, a 
bill is passed for his relief. 



COURT OF CLAIMS. 91 

4. It holds one session a year, in Washington, com- 
mencing on the first Monday in October, and continu- 
ing as long as business before it requires. It not only 
tries claims against the government, but by its enlarged 
jurisdiction, conferred in 1863, it also tries counter 
claims, and set-offs, which the United States may have 
against the claimant. Appeals are taken from the 
Court of Claims to the Supreme Court of the United 
States, when the amount in controversy exceeds $3,000. 

5. Before the establishment of this court, the only 
remedy persons having claims upon the government 
had, was by petitioning to Congress for relief ; which 
experience proved to be a long, tedious and expensive 
mode of obtaining their dues. The petition now goes 
to this court, where it is heard and adjudicated in the 
same form, and by the same rules of procedure which 
are observed in other courts ; for Congress has confer- 
red upon it all the powers commonly possessed by 
other courts of law. It also has a seal. 

6. It has greatly facilitated the settlement of claims 
against the government, and has relieved Congress of 
a great amount of labor, which was urgently pressed 
upon it at every session. 

7. In addition to the five judges, it has a Solicitor, 
an Assistant Solicitor, and a Deputy Solicitor, all ot 
whom are appointed by the President and Senate ; and 
are officers of the court, whose duty it is faithfully to 
defend the United States in all matters and claims be- 
fore this court. 

The Judges receive $4,000 per annum salary. The 



92 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Solicitor and Assistant Solicitor receive $3,500 each, 
and the Deputy Solicitor $2,500 per annum. 

A bailiff, a clerk, a crier and messenger, all of whom 
are appointed by the court, make up the remaining 
officials. 

In order to give the reader a better idea of proceed- 
ings in this tribunal, it may be stated that claimants 
stand in relation of plaintiffs, and the government in 
that of defendant. 



DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. 93 

CHAPTER XIX. 
District Attorneys. 

1. In the twelfth chapter we spoke of the appoint- 
ment, position and duties of the Attorney General of 
the United States, and originally intended to place our 
remarks upon the District Attorneys, next in order; 
but subsequently changed this plan, and determined to 
place them immediately after those upon the courts ; 
for next to the judges, they — the District Attorneys — 
are the higest officers in both the Circuit and District 
Courts. By reading this and the twelfth chapter con- 
secutively, a better understanding of both these classes 
of officials may be gained, and a clearer insight into 
the judicial machinery of the government. 

2. In another place we have spoken of the division 
of the United States (see political divisions), into Judi- 
cial Districts, in each of which there is held a District 
Court, and a District Attorney is appointed for each 
court, in the same manner that the Attorney General 
is appointed. He bears the same official relation to 
these courts, and has similar duties to perform in 
them, that the Attorney General has in the Su- 
preme Court. It is his duty u to prosecute in 
such district all delinquents for crimes and offen- 
ces cognizable under the authority of the United 
States, and all civil actions in which the United States 
shall be concerned." They are his clients, and he 
must enforce their rights, and defend them, in the same 



94 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

manner that any attorney protects and defends his 
client in any of the State courts. In case of necessity, 
he may appoint a substitute to act in his place. All 
fees over and above what he is allowed as compensa- 
tion for his services, he must report and pay into the 
United States Treasury. 

3. He must defend collectors of the customs and 
other revenue officers in his district, when suits are 
brought against them in their official capacity, and 
must report to the Solicitor of the Treasury the num- 
ber of suits determined and pending in his district. 
And when prize cases have been determined, or are 
pending in the District Court of his district, he must 
report the state and condition of each case to the Sec- 
retary of the Navy. 

District Attorneys are appointed for four years, 
but may be removed at the pleasure of the President. 
Their compensation depends on the amount of business 
to be done in their respective districts. When impor- 
tant ports of entry, such as New York or Boston, lie in 
their districts, their duties are very numerous, and they 
receive a corresponding compensation. 



U. S. MARSHALS. 95 



CHAPTER XX. 
United States Marshals. 

1. United States Marshals, commonly called simply 
Marshals, are the ministerial officers of the United 
States courts. Their duties and responsibilities are 
very similar, and nearly identical with the duties and 
responsibilities of sheriffs in the courts of the several 
States. They are appointed by the President and 
Senate, for a term of four years. They appoint their 
own deputies, and their compensation consists of fees 
instead of a salary; and depends entirely upon the 
amount of business they have to transact. There is a 
Marshal in every Judicial District in the United States, 
and there are fifty-nine of these districts in all, as 
stated in another place. Every State forms at least 
one district, while the larger States are divided into 
two or three. 

2. A District Court is held in every district; and it 
is the Marshal's duty to attend the sittings of these 
courts, and also those of the United States Circuit Courts, 
when they happen to sit in his district. The Marshal 
for the District of Columbia must also attend the sit- 
tings of the Supreme Court, and execute its precepts. 
We have said that they are the ministerial officers of 
the United States courts; for it is their duty to servo 
all writs and precepts emanating from them, whether 
of a civil or criminal character; and to execute the 
judgments and decrees of these tribunals; and for this 



96 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

purpose they are authorized by law, (if necessary), to 
command such assistance as they may need in the exe- 
cution of their duties. Before they enter upon the 
duties of their office, they must be bound to the United 
States for the faithful performance of them, and must 
solemnly swear to do them, without malice or partiality ; 
and that they will take only lawful fees. They are 
also held answerable for the delivery to their succes- 
sors of all prisoners who may be in their custody at the 
time of their removal, or at the expiration of their term 
of office. 

3. They also have the custody of all vessels and goods 
seized by any officer of the revenue. It is their duty 
also to summons, and to pay jurors and witnesses in 
behalf of any prisoner to be tried for a capital offence, 
under the laws of the United States. In the remarks 
made under the head "Census," we stated that it was 
made the duty of the Marshals to superintend and 
direct the enumeration of the people; and to collect 
such statistical facts as the law requires. This they do 
through deputies, whom they appoint for that special 
purpose. 

The United States Marshal is also required, on the 
first day of January and July of each year, to make a 
return of all the fees and emoluments of his office to 
the Secretary of the Interior; and if they amount to 
more than $6,000 per year, he must pay the surplus 
into the Treasury of the United States. 



GEAND JURY. 97 



CHAPTER XXL 
Grand Jury. 

1. By turning to the fifth article of the amendments 
to the Constitution, vou will find these words: "Xo 
person shall be held to answer for a capital or other- 
wise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indict- 
ment of a Grand Jury; except in cases arising in the 
land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual 
service, in time of war or public danger." This con- 
stitutional provision makes a Grand Jury a very 
important agent or instrumentality in the execution of 
the laws, and also a safegaurd of the liberties and rights 
of the people. It secures every person from the ex- 
pense and disgrace of a trial for infamous crimes, unless 
a Grand Jury of his countrymen shall find upon inquiry 
and investigation, that there are good reasons for be- 
lieving that the person so charged has committed the 
alleged offence. 

2. This provision not only protects those who are 
charged with these crimes against the laws of the 
United States, but those also who may be charged with 
such offences against the laws of any State; for no 
State can arrest and try any person for a capital or in- 
famous crime without these preliminary proceedings 
of a Grand Jury; and should it do so, the United States 
Supreme Court would set its laws aside, as contrary 
to the Constitution of the United States. Here we see 
that the government is just as careful to protect its 

4 



98 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

citizens from injustice by hasty judicial proceedings, 
as it is to punish them after a fair and impartial trial. 

3. A Grand Jury, when called to take cognizance 
of violations of the laws of the United States, to find 
indictments against those who are charged with them, 
is summoned by a judge of a United States court in 
the circuit or district where the alleged crime has 
been perpetrated; and it must take notice of all crimes 
against the laws of the United States, which may be 
brought to its knowledge, within the circuit or district 
in which it sits. Hence, if ordered by a Circuit 
Judge, its powers extend over all those States which 
lie in that circuit. But when ordered by a District 
Judge, its powers extend only to that district in which 
it sits, and a district never embraces more than one 
State, and in many cases a State is divided into two 
or three districts. 

4. This shows us how much more extensive is the 
jurisdiction of a Grand Jury, when acting under the 
laws of the United States, than when acting under State 
laws. In the former it extends generally all over a 
State, and sometimes over several States. But in the 
latter it is confined to the county in which it sits. 

GRAND AND PETIT JURIES. 

It may be interesting and useful to our young readers, 
to explain here the difference between a Grand and a 
Petit Jury, as they are commonly denominated. First, 
a Grand Jury never acts but in criminal cases. A 
Petit Jury acts in both criminal and civil cases. The 
finding or conclusion arrived at by a Grand Jury is 
called a presentment, or an indictment. The finding 
of a Petit Jury is called its verdict. 



GRAND JURY. 99 

5. Second, a Grand Jury sits alone (not in the pre- 
sence of the court), and deliberates upon such matters 
of a criminal character as it possesses knowledge of, or 
which may be brought to its notice by the court or by 
other persons ; and when it finds that great evils exist, 
and wrongs have been perpetrated, it presents them to 
the court, and calls the attention of the law officers to 
them ; which is equivalent to a recommendation that 
judicial proceedings should be commenced to abate the 
evil, or to punish the wrong doer. This is called a pre- 
sentment of the Grand Jury. 

And when they find, upon such evidence as they 
have, that a great crime has been perpetrated, or that 
they have good reason so to believe, and that it ha3 
been perpetrated by some person specified, they report 
their finding or conclusion to the Court. This is 
called an indictment by the Grand Jury ; after which 
the person so charged is arrested, if at large, and can 
be found, and is either imprisoned or held to bail for 
his appearance at court to stand trial. 

6. A Grand Jury never tries a case. It only says to 
the court by its presentment or indictment, that the 
case presented, or the person indicted, ought to be 
brought before the court, and tried for the alleged 
wrong or crime. 

A Petit Jury sits with the court, hears the pleadings 
and arguments of counsel on both sides, listens to the 
evidence of witnesses ; and then hears the charge of 
the judge, as to the law applicable to the case; after 
which the}^ withdraw and deliberate alone upon the 
•case, and if they agree in a criminal ease, their verdict 



100 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

is "Guilty," or "Not Guilty; " if in a civil suit, they 
say how much one party is indebted (if any), to the 
other. 

7. The object aimed at in that article of the Consti- 
tution which stands at the head of this chapter, is to 
protect persons from false charges of crime, and hasty 
adjudication of such charges; for it substantially 
amounts to a declaration that no person shall be pun- 
ished for a capital or infamous crime, unless one jury, 
before trial, shall, upon information and belief, charge 
him with the offence ; and another, after trial, shall 
find him guilty of the alleged crime. 

The above remarks are as applicable to Grand and 
Petit Juries, acting under State, as those which act 
under the United States laws. 



ADMIRALTY AND MARITIME JURISDICTION. 101 



CHAPTER XXII. 
Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction. 

In ancient times — and long before this government 
existed — civilized and commercial nations had codes or 
laws which related especially to transactions upon the 
sea. Those respecting ships of war and warlike ope- 
rations at sea, were called the laws of Admiralty ; 
those respecting vessels engaged in commercial affairs 
were called Maritime laws ; and the courts empowered 
with jurisdiction to hear and try causes, or to take 
any judicial proceedings in those cases, were styled 
Courts of Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction. 
These laws, in many respects, differed so materially 
from the laws relating to affairs on land, that the au- 
thority and power to take proceedings in, and adjudi- 
cate upon them, was conferred upon a particular class 
of courts. Hence we see the origin of the names of 
such tribunals. 

In this country, the United States District Courts 
have been designated by the laws as the courts which 
shall have original and exclusive authority to adjudi- 
cate this class of causes ; yet an appeal from the Dis- 
trict to the Circuit Courts may be taken. 

KIND OF CASES. 

The word Maritime designates that which relates to 
the sea. Yet, in the United States, cases which come 
within Admiralty and Maritime jurisdiction, are not 



102 OUTLINES OF IT. S. GOVERNMENT. 

restricted to the sea, or to transactions relating to busi- 
ness or crimes done on it, but are made to embrace 
those which occur on navigable lakes and rivers, and 
include seizures made for the violation of the laws of 
impost, navigation or trade, suits for the recovery of 
seamen's wages, contracts for building, repairing or 
fitting out vessels, and, briefly, all contracts where the 
subject-matter relates to the navigation of the sea. 
The District Courts have Admiralty and Maritime 
jurisdiction in all these cases, without regard to the 
amount claimed, and in criminal as well as in civil 
suits. 

The foregoing remarks show the workings of our 
judicial system, as it applies to business done, and 
crimes committed upon the high seas. 



CONGRESSMEN. 103 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
Congressmen. 

1. Congressman, in the most comprehensive sense 
in which the term may be used, means any member 
in either branch of Congress. But there is a more 
restricted sense in which it is most commonly used, 
and in this sense it is generally understood ; that is, a 
member of the House of Representatives, the lower of 
the two Houses. These are elected by the' people, in 
each State, and in the Congressional districts of that 
State ; and they are the only persons either in the 
Legislative, Executive, or Judiciary branches of the 
government, for whom the people vote directly. They 
are elected by single districts, that is, but one member 
is chosen in one district. They are elected for two 
years, that is, during the term of a Congress, which lasts 
two years, and always holds two sessions. The 
President may call an extra session, if in his judgment 
the exigencies of the country are such as to require its 
action before the time of the regular meeting. This 
has been done on several occasions. 

2. The Constitution prescribes the qualifications of 
members of the House of Representatives (which see). 
They are also stated in Chapter III, where much other 
matter relating to this subject may be found. The 
Constitution is silent as to the number of members of 
which the House shall be composed, excepting that it 
specifics how many each State should have, until the 
first enumeration of the people in 1790 ; and since then 
Congress has from time to time fixed the number, 
which is now 241 — to which must be added one for 
Nevada, and one for Nebraska, which States were ad- 
mitted since the last apportionment. 



104 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTEE XXIV. 

Congressional Districts. 

Whenever the population of a State is so small that 
it is entitled to only one Representative in Congress, 
the whole State forms but one Congressional district; 
but whenever it is entitled to two or more, then it is 
divided by its Legislature into as many districts as its 
population entitles it to return members ; so that 
every member of Congress is chosen by single districts. 
The act thus districting the States was passed in 1862. 
In large cities, certain sections or wards are constitu- 
ted a Congressional district. In the country, a county 
or several counties are formed into a district ; but in 
all cases a district must consist of contiguous territory, 
not scattered, apiece here and a piece there, in different 
parts of the State or country. 

These districts must be re-arranged every ten years, 
and as soon as may be after the census is taken (which 
is every ten years), and the population known and pub- 
lished. The reason for this re-arrangement becomes 
apparent from the fact that the number of the popula- 
tion isconstantlv changing. In some States and coun- 
ties it is rapidly increasing; in others increasing very 
slowly, or not at all, or indeed may be decreasing. In 
new Western States it has increased uniformly so rap- 
idly that at the end of every decade they have been 
entitled to an increase of Representatives ; while some 
of the older States, not increasing so fast, have actually 
lost, so that what we state as the number of Represen- 
tatives of each State now, may not be exactly correct 
after the next census. Hence we see that Congres- 
sional Districts are not permanent political divisions, 
but are liable to frequent changes. If they were per- 
manent, they would probably be laid down in our com- 
mon maps, as counties sometimes are. They are now 
generally designated by the ordinal numbers, as 1st, 2d, 
3rd, 4th, &c, Congressional districts of such a State. 



CLERK OP THE HOUSE. 105 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Clerk of the House of . Bepresentatives, and 
Secretary of the Senate. 

1. The name of the first mentioned officer indicates 
the nature of his duties. He of course must keep a 
record of the proceedings of the House of which he is 
Clerk. In addition to the ordinary duties of his posi- 
tion, Congress requires him to give bonds in the sum of 
twenty thousand dollars, that he will faithfully apply 
and disburse the contingent funds of the House, which 
may come into his hands. He, with the Secretary of 
the Senate, is authorized to advertise for proposals for 
supplying the Senate and House of Representatives 
with stationery and printing. 

2. He must lay before Congress the names and com- 
pensation of all clerks and messengers employed in 
his office, and a detailed statement of all expenditures 
from the contingent fund of the House, together with 
a statement of all appropriations made by Congress 
during the last session, and all new officers created by 
it, and their salaries. 

3. He is chosen by the members of the House, holds 
his office two years, and receives a salaiy of $3,000 a 
year. He has the use of the Congressional Library, 
and is entitled to the franking privilege. 

secretary of the senate. 
The duties, compensation, mode of election, powers 
and privileges of this officer, are so much like those of 
the Clerk of the House, that to describe them would 
be little more than to reiterate the former part of this 
chapter. 



106 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

1. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is 
the presiding officer thereof. He is chosen by the 
members of that body, and is selected for this impor- 
tant position in view of his knowledge of parliamentary 
law and usages. He is elected for the full term of the 
Congress which chooses him. His compensation, by an 
act of 1856, was fixed at double the amount received by 
other members of the House ; for his duties are much 
more arduous than those of an ordinary member. 

2. The law provides that in case of the death, resig- 
nation, impeachment, or any other disability of both the 
President and Vice President, the President of the Sen- 
ate pro tern., must then act as President; but in case 
there happens to be no President of the Senate, then 
the Speaker becomes acting President. 

3. The Speakership of the House of Representatives 
has always been regarded as a very respectable and 
honorable position. The following are the names of 
all the Speakers of the House, since the establishment 
of the government, down to 1869. 

Frederick A. Muhlenburgh, Penn., 1789 to 1791 

Jonathan Trumbull, Conn., 

Frederick A. Muhlenburgh, 

Jonathan Dayton, 1ST. J., 

Theodore Sedgwick, Mass., 

Nathaniel Macon, BT. C, 

Joseph B. Yarnam, Mass., 



1791 


" 1793 


.., 1793 


" 1797 


1797 


" 1798 


1798 


" 1801 


1801 


" 1807 


1807 


" 1811 



SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. 107 



Henry Clay, Ky., 


1811 to 1814 


Langdon Cheeves, S. C, 


1814 


" 1815 


Henry Clay, Ky., 


1815 


" 1820 


JohnW. Taylor, KY., 


1820 


" 1821 


Philip R. Barbour, Va., 


1821 


" 1823 


Henry Clay Ky., 


1823 


" 1825 


John W". Taylor, K Y., 


1825 


" 1827 


Andrew Stephenson, Va., 


1827 


" 1835 


John Bell, Tenn., 


1835 


" 1837 


James K. Polk, Tenn., 


1837 


" 1839 


Robert M. T. Hunter, Va., 


1839 


" 1841 


John White, Ky., 


1841 


" 1843 


John W. Jones, Va., 


1843 


" 1845 


John W. Davis, Ind., 


1845 


" 1847 


Robert C. Winthrop, Mass., 


1847 


" 1849 


Howell Cobb, Ga., 


1849 


" 1851 


Lynn Boyd, Ky., 


1851 


" 1856 


Nathaniel P. Banks, Mass., 


1856 


" 1858 


James L. Orr, S. C, 


1858 


" 1859 


"William Pennington, "N. J., 


1860 


" 1861 


Galusha A. Grow, Penn., 


1861 


" 1863 


Schuyler Colfax, Ind., 


1864 


« 1869 


Jas. G. Blaine, 


1869 


" 1871 



108 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER XXVH. 
Acts of Congress. 

1. In a comprehensive sense, an act of Congress is 
any act done by it, whether it is making a law, the 
passage of a resolution, or any proceedings taken by it. 
But in a more restricted sense, and what is usually 
meant by "an act of Congress," is a bill (as a proposed 
law, when laid before any Legislative body is called), 
passed by both Houses of Congress into a law, accord- 
ing to the forms and prescribed rules always adhered 
to in the enactment of laws, and afterwards signed by 
the President, or passed by the votes of two-thirds of 
both Houses, when the President refuses to sign it. 

2. Hence every law of the United States is an act of 
Congress, properly introduced, examined, and gener- 
ally debated, altered and amended if thought best, and 
then voted for by a majority of the members of the 
House in which it originated, after which it is sent 
to the other House, where it goes through the same 
form, and, if approved by both Houses, it is then sent 
to the President for his signature, and, when signed by 
him, the bill becomes a law, "an act of Congress." 
These laws are then published in some of the newspa- 
pers in every State and Territory, also in pamphlet and 
book form, and distributed to every State and Territory, 
to the Members of Congress, and to all the principal 
officers of government at home and abroad, that the 



ACTS OF CONGRESS. 109 

people may know what the laws are by which they are 
to be governed. 

3. Every law passed by Congress is preceded by 
these words : "Be it enacted by the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the United States of America, in 
Congress assembled." This is called the enacting 
clause. 

A resolution, when passed by Congress, although in 
some instances of the same force as law, is an act of 
Congress of a very different character from those acts 
by which laws are enacted, for these must all be done 
according to established parliamentary usages and 
forms, such as laying it (the proposed law) before Con- 
gress in the form of a bill, printing it, referring it to 
an appropriate committee, to be afterwards reported 
by that committee, the placing it in its order upon the 
records of the House, and the calling it up in its regu- 
lar order, to be debated and voted upon. 

4. But resolutions are offered in writing, and often 
passed on the spot, though they are sometimes laid 
over and referred to a committee, then called up at 
the proper time, and debated, passed or rejected. 

Some of the most important work of Congress is 
done, however, by means of resolutions; for instance, 
its proceeding relative to an amendment of the Con- 
stitution is done by the passage of a resolution through 
both Houses. Many other matters upon which Con- 
gress acts, are disposed of in the same way. Its 
requirements of the President, the heads of Depart- 
ments, and other officers of the government, are made 
by resolutions, and have the binding force of law; tor 



110 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

a disregard of these requirements or instructions, when 
made or given to any of these officers, would be con- 
sidered the same as a violation of law, and would 
render the official liable to censure, or perhaps to im- 
peachment, or removal from office. 

5. Other resolutions are merely expressive of the 
sentiments or opinionsof Congress, such as the thanks it 
frequently votes to officers of the army and navy for 
brave and gallant conduct in the discharge of their 
duty in perilous situations. Such a recognition of the 
merits and good conduct of any man in the public ser- 
vice, is considered highly honorable to him who 
receives it. 

Some resolutions are concurrent — that is, both Hou- 
ses of Congress must concur in or pass the same before 
they have any power or validity. The Constitution 
prohibits either House of Congress from adjourning 
for more than three days without the concurrence of 
the other House. A final adjournment, or any other, 
for more than three days, would require the passage 
of a concurrent resolution. 

6. Other resolutions may pass in only one House, 
but are equally binding upon the members and officers 
of that House which passes them; but they do not bind 
the officers of the other House: such, for example, as 
relate to adjournments for not more than three days; 
to the order of business in that House ; directions to 
the officers and employes of that body, &c, &c. 



RATIO OF REPRESENTATION. Ill 



CHAPTER XXVni. 
Ratio of Representation. 

1. The ratio of representation simply means the 
ratio between the whole population of the United 
States, and the whole number of their Representatives 
in Congress; and this of course includes the ratio be- 
tween the people of any individual State, and the Rep- 
resentatives it is entitled to; both being estimated 
upon the same basis, and determined by the same rule. 

2. The distinctive characteristic of our government 
is, that it is a popular government. Its power is vested 
in the people. They elect their rulers, who are the 
servants of the people, and these rulers are expected to 
carry out the people's wishes. Upon such a system, 
it is a matter of the first importance, to distribute this 
power equally among all the people, and after having 
fixed upon the ratio between the whole population 
and the whole number of Representatives; or, in other 
words, after having determined how many members 
shall compose the lower House of Congress, the next 
step is to apportion these members among all the 
States in the ratio of their population. If one State 
has twice the number of inhabitants that another has, 
it will be entitled to twice the number of Representa- 
tives in Congress. If one has ten times the inhabi- 
tants that another has, it will be entitled to ten times 
the number of Representatives, and so on ; with this one 
exception, which is, that by a provision in the Const i- 



112 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

tution, every State, without regard to its population, 
is entitled to one Representative in the lower House. 

3. The adjustment of this matter is all provided for 
in the Constitution, that is, in its general features; 
but it devolves upon Congress in every tenth year to 
re-adjust and re-apportion the Representatives among 
the several States, according to the population of each 
State as showri by the last census, which is taken 
every tenth year; and when the apportionment is 
once made, it remains the same for the next ten years, 
when the census is taken again, and anew apportion- 
ment is made. 

4. Up to the present time (1869,) this has been done 
nine times. It was done the first time by the conven- 
tion which formed the Constitution. That apportion- 
ment is found in the Constitution, and is as follows : 



To New Hampshire, 


3 


Pennsylvania, 


8 


Massachusetts, 


8 


Delaware, 


1 


Rhode Island, 


1 


Maryland, 


6 


Connecticut, 


5 


Virginia, 


10 


New York, 


6 


North Carolina, 


5 


New Jersey, 


4 

Geoi 


South Carolina, 
•da, 3. 


5 



By this it will be seen that the first Congress con- 
sisted of but 65 members. 

The Constitution also provided that the Representa- 
tives should not exceed one to every 30,000 people. 
The next year after the government went into opera- 
tion, (1790), the first census was taken, and as soon as 
the result was known, a new apportionment was made. 
This was done in 1792, and was made upon the ratio 






RATIO OF REPRESENTATION. 113 

of one Representative to every 33,000 of representative* 
population. 

5. In 1800, the second census was taken ; and when 
Congress made the apportionment, which was done in 
1803, it did not change the ratio, but left it at one 
Eepresentative to every 33,000 of the representative 
population. 

In 1810, the third census was taken, and in 1811 the 
ratio was fixed at one Eepresentative for every 35,000 
of the population. 

In 1820, the fourth census was taken, and in 1822 
Congress fixed the ratio at one Eepresentative for 
every 40,000 of the population. 

In 1830, the fifth census was taken, and in 1832 the 
ratio was fixed at one Eepresentative to every 47,000 
of the population. 

In 1840, the sixth census was taken, and in 1842 
Congress again declared that the ratio should be one 
Eepresentative to every 70,000 of the population. 

6. In 1850, the seventh census was taken, and in 
conformity with the law passed this year, the number 
of members was for the first time limited ; the limit 
being 233 ; and the Secretary of the Interior was or- 
dered to take the census returns, and divide the whole 
representative population by the number 233, and to 
make the quotient the ratio between the Representa- 
tives and the people. 

7. We have never seen the result of the Secretary's 
estimate, but, taking the population of 1850 and di- 

* The Eepresentative population includes all free persons, white or 
black; to which (according to the provisions oi' tne Constitution), 
three-fifths of all the slaves wcro to be added. But this proviso, now 
that slavery is abolished, has become a nullity. 



114 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

viding it by 233, would produce a quotient of nearly 
94,000 ; and this we take as the ratio, after the time 
when it was done, in 1852 ; that is, one Eepresentative 
to every 94,000 of the population. 

8. In 1860, the eighth and last census was taken, 
and by the foregoing rule one Representative was al- 
lowed for every 127,000 of the population. 

In 1850 Congress adopted the principle of perma- 
nently fixing the number of members of Congress, to 
save the trouble of doing it as heretofore, every ten 
years. An act was passed limiting it to 233 ; but not- 
withstanding this limitation, it was provided that if any 
new State came in, it should have its member, which 
would add to the number. But this increase was to 
continue no longer than until the next apportionment, 
when the number was to fall back again to the old 
figure. 

But in 1862 this law was modified so as to make the 
whole number of members to consist of 241 after the 
3d of March, 1863, because it was found that by this 
number a closer approximation to an equality between 
the States, on the basis of their population, could be 
attained than by the number 233. And here it stands 
now, at 241, with its numbers apportioned among the 
several States as follows : 

Alabama, 

Arkansas, 

California, 

Connecticut, 

Delaware, 

Florida, 

Georgia, 



6 


Mississippi, 


5 


3 


Missouri, 


9 


3 


New Hampshire, 


3 


4 


New Jersey, 


5 


1 


New York, 


31 


1 


North Carolina, 


7 


7 


Ohio, 


19 



14 


Oregon, 


1 


11 


Pennsylvania, 


24 


6 


Rhode Island, 


2 


1 


South Carolina, 


4 


9 


Tennessee, 


8 


5 


Texas, 


4 


5 


Vermont, 


3 


5 


Virginia, 


8 


10 


West Virginia, 


3 


6 


Wisconsin, 


6 


2 







RATIO OF REPRESENTATION. 115 

Illinois, 

Indiana, 

Iowa, 

Kansas, 

Kentucky, 

Louisiana, 

Maine, 

Maryland, 

Massachusetts, 

Michigan, 

Minnesota, 

9. Nevada and Nebraska have been admitted as 
States since this apportionment, with one member 
each, so that the House at present consists of 243 
members ; and if other new States should come in be- 
fore 1870, they also will each bring in one member. 
But after 1870, according to the present law, the num- 
ber will be brought back again to 241. But it must 
be borne in mind that Congress has the power to alter 
all this, and to enact that Congress shall consist of any 
other number of members, although it is not probable 
that this will be done soon. 

10. We have taken the pains to make all the fore- 
going statements, not so much to show how the House 
of Representatives is now organized, as to show the 
general plan upon which it is constituted, and to show 
how the several States are constantly changing the 
number of their Representatives, and consequently 
their relative power and influence in Congress. This 
can be readily understood by remembering the fact 
that new States come into the Union every few years, 
and that the population increases much more rapidly 



116 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

in the Western States than in the Eastern, and that, 
consequently, the West is rapidly gaining power in 
Congress, while the Atlantic States are losing it. 

11. One other remark in regard to the number of 
members of which the House is composed, may prop- 
erly be made here; and that is, that in the apportion- 
ment no regard is had to the Territories or to their 
population. In this adjustment, the States and their 
population only are regarded, and the number of mem- 
bers is all given to the States. Every Representative 
from a Territory is an addition to that number, but it 
must be remembered that a Territorial member has no 
right to vote on any question, but has only the right to 
debate ; and for this reason he is not, in the fullest 
sense, a member, and is not counted in adjusting the 
number of which the House is made to consist. 



CENSUS. 117 



CHAPTER XXIX. 
Census. 

1. A census is an enumeration, or counting, of the 
inhabitants of any country. History informs us that 
this was done in very ancient times. One of the books 
in the Old Testament (Numbers) was named from the 
circumstance that it contains an account of the num- 
bering of the Israelites, by the order of Moses. That 
numbering was a census of the people composing the 
Jewish nation. It not only gives us the total number 
of the people, but that of each tribe ; much after our own 
mode of doing the same thing. We take ours by 
States, and we find the total of the whole nation. In 
ancient times, a census seems to have been taken more 
for military than for any other purpose. This is one 
of the objects in the present day; but in modern times 
many uses are made of a census. It not only shows 
the military power of a nation, but when taken with 
the distinctions of sex, and age, with an account of the 
births, marriages, and deaths during each year, it 
throws much light upon a variety of interesting topics ; 
such as the longevity, the rate of mortality, the ratio of in- 
crease and the average duration of human life. These 
and many other important facts are obtained by a cen- 
sus. 

2. In the United States the census is the only moans 
by which Congress determines the number of Repre- 
sentatives each State is entitled to have in that body. 



118 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Hence the Constitution itself makes provision for the 
enumeration of the people once in ten years, — 
called a decade. The first was made in 1790, the next 
in 1800, and so on every tenth year. If the number of 
any year ends with a cipher, we know that the United 
States census was taken, or will be taken in that year, 
whether we look backward or forward. 

3. Up to the present time (1869), according to 
the provisions made in the Constitution, a census 
has been taken eight -times, and under the head 
of recapitulation on page 120, we find what it 
was each time. "We also find that from the first 
(1790), to the last (1860), the population had in- 
creased from 8,929,827, to 31,747,5 14. At the pres- 
ent time it approximates nearly to 40,000,000; indica- 
ting a growth unparalleled by any nation in ancient 
or modern times. 

"We will next state how this great national work is 
performed. The Constitution simply declares that it 
shall be done, but the laws specify how it shall be done, 
and who shall do it. 

The United States Marshals are the officers designa- 
ted by the law, as the persons who shall make the 
enumeration of the people in each State and Territory; 
in addition to which they are also required to procure 
other statistical matter, as directed by Congress. 

4. In order to accomplish this work, it is necessary 
to employ a number of assistant marshals, one of 
whom must visit every house in his district, and as- 
certain the number of persons belonging to it, together 
with such statistical information as is required. This 



CENSUS. 119 

is all returned to the marshal, and by him sent to the 
Department of the Interior at Washington, where, under 
the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, it is made 
into a report, and then laid before Congress, to be used 
by it in apportioning to the States their quota of Rep- 
resentatives. This apportionment is actually made in 
the Department of the Interior, and then laid before 
Congress, for its examination and approval. The mar- 
shal appoints and commissions his deputies, who must 
be sworn to perform the duties assigned to them, to the 
best of their ability. 

5. In the Department of the Interior, there is a board 
whose duty it is to superintend the work of taking the 
census. It prepares, prints, and sends to every mar- 
shal the blanks to be used by him and his assistants ; 
and when they have made returns of their work, the 
board arranges them preparatory to laying them be- 
fore Congress. After this they are published, and 
make a very valuable work of reference ; for they 
contain a vast amount of statistical information ; such 
as the number of acres of land under cultivation, the 
number of bushels of grain of every kind produced 
in the year ; the number of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, 
&c, raised ; the number of manufacturing establish- 
ments, and the amount of their productions ; the num- 
ber of churches, schools, colleges, &c; the number of 
deaf, blind, idiotic and insane persons; together with 
much other matter, quite too voluminous for insertion 
here. 

6. All this is done by order of Congress, and of 
course paid for from the United States Treasury. 



120 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



"We annex a tabular statement of the population of 
each State and Territory, at each time the census has 
been taken by the United States. It shows the increase 
at each decade, from 1790 to 1860, together with the 
increase of the number of States and Territories. 

POPULATION AT DIFFERENT PERIODS. 



STATES, 


1790, 


1800. 


1810. 


1820. 


1830. 


1840, 


1850. 


1860, 








127,901 
14,255 

"275,102 
72,749 


309.527 
30,388 

"297,675 
76,748 
34,730 
516,823 
157,445 
343,031 


590,756 
97,574 

"309,97s 
78,085 
54.477 
691.392 
476.1S3 
685.866 
43,112 


771,623 

209,897 

92,597 

370,792 

91,532 

87,445 

906.185 

857,470 

98S,416 

192,214 


■ 64,201 










35,450 


California ... 
Connecticut. 
Delaware 




238,141 
59,096 


251,202 
64,273 


262,042 
72,674 


65,439 

60,147 

112,216 

140,425 


Georgia 

Illinois 


82,548 


162,101 
' '4,'875 


252,433 
12,282 
24,520 


340.9S3 

55,102 

147,178 


1,057,286 
1.711,951 

1,350,428 






674,913 














107,206 


Kentucky ... 
Louisiana.... 


73,077 

' 96,540 

319,728 
37S.717 


220,955 

151,719 

341,584 
423,245 


406,511 
76.556 
22S,705 
380,546 
472,040 
4,762 

"40,'352 
20,845 
214,360 
245,555 
959.049 
555.500 
230,760 


564,135 
152,923 
93,269 
407.350 
523.159 
8,765 

""75.448 

66,577 

244,022 

277.426 

1,372,111 
63S,829 
581,295 


6S7,917 
215,739 
399.455 
447.040 
610.408 
31,639 

136.6-21 

140.455 
269,328 
320.823 
1,918,60S 
737,987 
937,903 


779,828 
352.411 
501.793 
470.019 
737,699 
212,267 

375.G5i 
3S3.702 
284^574 
373,306 

2,428.921 
753.419 

1,519,467 


982,405 
517.762 
583,169 
583,034 
994,514 
397.654 
6,077 
606,526 
CS2,044 
317,976 
489,555 

3,097,394 
869.039 

1,980,329 
13,294 

2,311,786 
147.545 
668.507 

1.002.717 
212.592 
314.1 20 

1 421.661 
305,391 


1,155,684 
708,002 
628.279 


Maryland.:.. 

Mass'chus'ts 


687,049 

1,231,066 

749.113 


Minnesota... 




8,850 


172,123 
791,303 






1,182,012 
'326,073 
672,035 


N. H 


141,899 
184,139 
340,120 
393,751 


183.762 
211.949 
586,756 
478,103 
45,365 


N.J 


New York... 
N. Carolina.. 
Ohio 


3.880.735 

992.622 

2 339 511 






52 465 


Penu 

Khodelsland 
S. Carolina... 
Tennessee.... 


434,373 
69,110 

249,073 
35,791 


602,361 

69,122 

245.591 

105,602 


77,031 
415.115 
261,727 


1,047,507 

83.015 

402.741 

22,761 


1,348.233 

97.199 
5S1.1S5 
6S1,904 


1,724,033 
108.S30 
594.39S 
829.210 


2,906,115 
174,620 
703,708 

1.109,801 
604,215 
315 098 

1,596.318 
775.SS1 

36,538 
2,576 


Yermont, 

Yirginia 

"Wisconsin ... 
Territories. 

Colorado 

Dakota 


85,416 
74S,308 




154.465 
880,200 


217.713 
974,622 


235,749 
1,065,129 


280.652 
1,211,405 


291,918 

1,239.797 
30,945 


Nebraska 
















2S,841 
17,364 


New Mexico 
Utah 














61.547 
11380 


83,009 
40.699 
11.163 
75,OSO 


Dist. of Col.. 




14,093 


24,023 


33,039 


39,834 


43,712 


5L6S7 



Total Population in 1790., 

" " " 1800.. 

" " " 3810., 

" " 1820.. 

" " " 1830.. 

" " " 1840., 

" " " 1850.. 

" I860.. 



To which add Indians and others in Indian territory, not included in Census.. 
Graud Total in 1860 31 



.929,827 

,305.937 
,239.814 
638.191 
,866.020 
,069.453 
191.876 
,443.321 
304.192 
747,514 



UNITED STATES FLAG. 121 

CHAPTER XXX. '. 
The United States Flag. 

1. The United States flag, " the stars and stripes," 
is too familiar an object to require much description; 
for every body has seen it, and almost every one haa 
admired it. And no wonder, for it is the handsomest 
flag in the world, — B,ed, "White and Blue; — those al- 
ternate red and white stripes in beautiful contrast with 
the blue field bedecked with stars ; — as though a piece 
of the sky had been taken to add more beauty to our 
national emblem which makes it in truth, " The star- 
spangled banner." 

2. But there is a little history about it, which it is 
well to know. In 1794, when there were only fifteen 
States, Congress passed an act declaring that the flag 
of the United States should consist of fifteen stripes, 
alternate red and white, and that the union be fifteen 
stars, white in a blue field. The stars and stripes were 
by this act to be equal in number. But this act was 
repealed by another, passed in 1818, which declared 
that it should consist of only thirteen stripes, alternate 
red and white; and that the Union be twenty stars; 
and that upon the admission of every new State into 
the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag. 
This has been done, and now there are thirty-seven 
stars in the blue field. By this arrangement our flag 
is, and always will be emblematic of two things; the 
thirteen stripes indicate the thirteen original States, 
while the stars show, and will always show, the mini- 
bet of States in the Federal Union. The stars will 
continue to increase until the last State shall be added ; 
and when thus completed, will probably form a 
constellation of fifty or more stars, representing so 
many States. 



122 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
The Laws of the United States. 

1. A clearer and more comprehensive idea of the 
laws under which we live, may be obtained by a sort 
of analysis of them, or a division of them into their 
several kinds. By this process we shall find four dif- 
ferent laws, emanating from four different sources or 
authorities; each having the power to enact, and to 
demand obedience to its enactments. 

The first of these is the Constitution of the United 
States. This is considered as an enactment of the 
people themselves ; for it was made by their Repre- 
sentatives chosen for that purpose, and afterwards 
ratified by them through another body of their Repre- 
sentatives, viz., the Legislatures of the several States. 
In the Constitution itself we find a large body of laws, 
and those of the most important and essential character; 
for they not only bind every person in the country, 
but they bind Congress itself, which is the law making 
power of the Government. 

2. The whole body of the law found in the Constitu- 
tion is called " Constitutional law." It is of the highest 
authority, and paramount to all other laws, excepting 
the laws of God. Statute laws may be changed or repealed 
at any time by the same power that enacted them, but 
the Constitution cannot be changed except by a vote of 
two-thirds of both Houses of Congress, and the appro- 
val of three-fourths of all the Legislatures of the States 
in the Uuion. Thus it takes a long time to change or 



LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. 123 

amend it, and no one body of men can alter it; but 
any amendment must have the approval of all the 
Legislative bodies above named. Then it is deemed 
to have been sanctioned by three-fourths of the people 
themselves, for it is done by their immediate Repre- 
sentatives. So much, for one kind of law. 

3. The next in order are the laws enacted by Con- 
gress. These, like all laws make by legislative bodies 
are denominated statute laws. These laws, while in 
force, are as binding as those found in the Constitution. 
But this distinction must be observed; the statutes as 
before stated may be amended or wholly repealed at 
any time when Congress is in session, and may be set 
aside by the Supreme Court in case they are found to 
be contrary to any of the provisions of the Constitution. 
All the laws enacted by Congress, unless they are for 
some local object, are equally binding in every State 
and Territory of the United States; and are uniformly 
applied and executed in all, by the United States* 
courts. The foregoing remark shows us the wide dif- 
ference between an act of Congress which extends to, 
and embraces the whole national domain ; and an act 
of a State Legislature, which has no authority or power 
beyond the limits of the State where it was enacted, 

4. The laws contained in the Constitution are few in 
number in comparison with the statute laws. These 
are exceedingly numerous, and are made to meet the 
necessities and wants of the people in all their relations 
to the government and to each other; to regulate the 
army, the navy, our diplomatic intercourse with foreign 
nations, and in short every tiling which requires legis- 



124 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

lative interference ; while those relate only to the fun- 
damental principles on which the government is based, 
and may be compared to an outline map, which only 
shows the boundaries and some of the principal moun- 
tains, rivers, cities and other prominent features of the 
country intended to be delineated. 

5. Thus much for Constitutional and statute laws. 
We will now notice another kind, quite different from 
either in the mode of enactment, but just aP^binding 
on Congress, the Executive, the Judiciary, and on ev- 
ery citizen as any Constitutional provision, or act of 
Congress. We mean the various treaties made be- 
tween us and foreign nations, and Indian tribes. Trea- 
ties when made and ratified by the respective govern- 
ments by which they are made, are of the same author- 
ity and as binding upon the citizens of both countries, 
as any Constitutional or statutory law in existence ; and 
any violation of the provisions of a treaty between us 
and any foreign power is made punishable, as much as 
the violation of any statute upon the books. This of 
course applies to individual citizens. If the treaty be 
violated by either of the national authorities, it then 
becomes a subject of diplomatic arrangement, or may 
lead to a war between the governments concerned. We 
have thus disposed of the third kind of law, according 
to our mode of division. 

6. At the commencement of* this chapter we spoke 
of four kinds of laws to which the citizens of the 
United States are subject. The three already noticed 
are by far the most important, whereas the fourth — the 
laws of nations — are, so far as individuals are con- 



LAWS OP THE UNITED STATES. 125 

cerned, of minor importance, as they relate rather to 
the duties of governments and their agents, to the du- 
ties and obligations of armies, and of naval command- 
ers in times of war. All these, with many other mat- 
ters, are regulated according to the law of nations, 
which law is not a series of enactments of any law- 
making power of any government upon earth, but con- 
sists of rules laid down by the great writers upon this 
subject, as rules or laws which should regulate the 
conduct of one nation towards another, according to 
the admitted principles of right and humanity, especi- 
ally in times ot war. These laws and principles have 
been approved of and sanctioned by almost all civi- 
lized nations, and hence have been denominated "the 
law of nations," and are observed by all governments 
of civilized countries who wish to sustain an honor- 
able character among the family of nations. The vio- 
lation of the law of nations exposes the violator to the 
condemnation of the world, and to the danger of re- 
taliation by war with the injured nation. 

7. While on the subject of laws, it will not be irrele- 
vant to say that the United States courts, and especi- 
ally the Supreme Court, are the expounders of the 
laws of the country, and of the " law of nations" when- 
ever they apply to matters in which our government 
or our citizens are concerned. The courts themselves 
make no laws, but by their decisions in cases adjudi- 
cated by them, they declare what is the true meaning 
and intention of the Constitution and the laws. They 
declare how these should be understood, construed 
and applied. Hence the decisions of the courts are 



128 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

regarded with almost as much deference as the laws 
themselves, determining, as they do, the interpretation 
and true meaning of them. 

8. In the foregoing remarks we have made no allu- 
sion to the laws of the States, which have no authority 
or power outside of the State by which they are 
enacted; and shall not do so now, as it would be foreign 
to the object of our work. We therefore will close 
the chapter on this subject with the addition of a single 
remark, that every person in the United States lives 
under two distinct and separate governments and codes 
of law, viz. : First, the United States government and 
its laws; and, second, the government and laws of the 
State where he resides. 

9. But how is a conflict between the laws of the 
United States and the laws of the States avoided ? 

Answer — By the following Constitutional provision, 
found in the sixth article of that instrument, and in 
these words : 

"This Constitution, and the laws of the United States, 
which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all trea- 
ties made or which shall be made under the authority 
of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land, 
and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, 
anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the 
contrary notwithstanding." This answers the question. 
The Constitution, treaties with foreign nations, and 
the laws enacted by Congress, are supreme, and over- 
ride any law passed by any State, if it conflicts with 
any of these. The United States courts, and the 
courts of any State, are bound to disregard and set 
aside any State law in case it is found to be contrary 
to the United States laws. 



NATURALIZATION LAWS. 12f 



CHAPTER XXXII. 
Naturalization Laws. 

1. By far the greater part of the people in the Uni- 
ted States are natives of the country, and are, conse- 
quently, citizens by birthright. They have all the 
rights and privileges which the government affords, 
without being required to do anything to procure them. 
A native citizen has the right to vote, the right to buy, 
hold and sell lands, and the right to protection by his 
government when in a foreign country or upon the 
high seas. But an alien does not enjoy these rights. 
An alien is one who was born in some foreign country, 
and before he can be a citizen, he must remain in the 
country at least five years ; and then must, in addition to 
this, do such things as our naturalization laws require of 
him. After he has done this he becomes a citizen, 
and has all the rights of a native, with this excep- 
tion — he never can be President or Vice President of 
the United States, because the Constitution positively 
declares that both of these high officers shall be native 
citizens, and the one exception to this provision has no 
application now. 

2. The United States have always pursued a very 
liberal policy towards aliens, or foreigners, as they are 
sometimes called, for they have enacted laws easily 
complied with, by which any alien may become a citi- 
zen, after which he possesses the same rights as a 
native, with the exception before stated. 



128 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

WHAT AN ALIEN MUST DO TO BECOME A CITIZEN. 

3. The Constitution authorizes Congress to pass 
such laws as it may judge right and proper on the sub- 
ject of naturalization. This has been done from time 
to time. The first act of this kind was passed in 1790, 
since which various other acts have been passed 
modifying the first. 

An alien, in order to become a citizen, must go be- 
fore some United States court, or some court of record 
of some State, at least two years before his admission, 
and then and there declare under oath that it is his in- 
tention to become a citizen of the United States, and 
must renounce all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign 
prince, potentate, State or sovereignty whatever, and 
particularly by name, the prince, potentate, State or 
sovereignty whereof such alien may, at the time, be a 
citizen or subject. 

4. And at the time he is admitted he must, before 
some of the courts before named, again swear to the 
same things, with the addition that he will support 
the Constitution of the United States. When all this 
is done, the court before whom the oath is taken, and 
the renunciation made, makes a record of the proceed- 
ings, and gives the person naturalized a certificate that 
he was made a citizen by the said court at the time 
and place therein named. This certificate gives him 
all the rights of citizenship in any State or Territory 
in the United States. All laws relating to naturaliza- 
tion are made by Congress. No State has the right 
to pass any law on this subject. Yet Congress confers 
authority on the State courts to naturalize an alien. 



NATURALIZATION LAWS. 129 

Indeed, State courts naturalize more than the United 
States courts. But Congress should not allow State 
courts to naturalize at all, because such monstrous 
frauds have been perpetrated by them in some of the 
States. 

5. In addition to what we have said on this subject, 
it should be stated that an alien must, in all cases, have 
lived in the country five years before he can be admit- 
ted to citizenship. But in 1862 an act was passed 
making an exception to this requirement in favor of 
any person who was twenty-one years of age, and 
had enlisted, or who should thereafter enlist in the 
army, and be honorably discharged therefrom. In 
such cases, a good moral character, with one year's 
residence, without any previous declaration of intention, 
was sufficient. Our naturalization laws require good 
moral character in all cases of those who apply for ad- 
mission to citizenship. But the courts have been ex- 
ceedingly remiss in this matter, and almost everybody 
who makes application is admitted to this exalted privi- 
lege without any regard to the character of the appli- 
cant. 

The law requires that if an alien has borne any title 
of nobility in the country from whence he came, he 
must renounce such title before he can be made a citi- 
zen of the United States. 

6. There is an exception to what is above stated in 
the definition of an alien; that is, that he is one who 
was born in some foreign country. A child may be born 
out of the United States; yet if its parents, at the time 
of its birth, were citizens, the child is also a citizen by 



130 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

virtue of its parent's citizenship, and, consequently, 
never needs naturalization to possess all the rights it 
would have, had it been born in the United States. 

7. In this connection another provision of our natu- 
ralization laws should be noticed; and that is, that 
children born in a foreign country, and of foreign 
parentage, become citizens of the United States with- 
out personal naturalization, upon the following condi- 
tions: First, that they came into the country before 
they are twenty-one years of age; and Second, that 
their father became a naturalized citizen before they 
have reached that age — that is, the naturalization of 
the father makes all his children citizens who reside 
in the country, and are under the age of twenty-one 
at the time of the parent's naturalization. This is a 
very liberal provision of the law in favor of the minor 
children of those who become citizens. 



NEUTRALITY LAWS. 131 



CHAPTER XXXHT. 
Neutrality Laws. 

1. The neutrality laws of the United States, like 
those of other nations which have enacted them, have 
the same design and are intended to accomplish the 
same object; which is, to preserve peace, and to main- 
tain friendly relations with other nations, States or 
powers. It is the duty, the interest, and should be the 
policy of all governments, to live in peace with other 
nations, whenever it can be done without the sacrifice 
of honor or self-preservation. It is the duty of every 
government so to control the actions of its own citi- 
zens or subjects, as not to allow them to perpetrate 
such acts towards other governments as would tend to 
embroil the two countries in a war, or to disturb their 
friendly relations and intercourse. 

The most civilized and enlightened nations have for 
this purpose enacted neutrality laws, which if obeyed 
by the citizens of the country that enacts them, do 
much to prevent wars and unfriendly feelings between 
nations. 

2. A single illustration will, perhaps, place the 
whole scope, design and nature of neutrality laws in a 
clearer light, than a verbose recital of, or commentary 
upon their provisions. Our illustration may be thus 
put; A, B and C, we suppose to be three different na- 
tions. A and B arc at war with each other, but both 
on friendly terms with C. Now C, by her neutrality 



132 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

laws, prohibits her citizens or subjects within her ter- 
ritory from enlisting or fitting out men, or organizing 
any expedition by sea or land to aid either of the 
belligerent nations, A or B ; because this would be a 
hostile act towards the other, and might lead to a war 
between it and C. 

The neutrality laws of the United States, now in 
force, were enacted in 1818, and are very similar in 
their provisions to laws of other nations upon the same 
subject, and are declaratory of the pre-existing laws of 
nations. 

3. These laws, however, do not prohibit the citizens 
of the United States from leaving their country, and 
then enlisting or engaging in war upon either side. 
It does not prohibit a citizen from leaving his country; 
and after he has left it, the government has no control 
over him. Hence, in spite of neutrality laws, it-is no 
uncommon thing to find the subjects of governments 
engaging in a war against a nation with which their 
own government is at peace. The violation of the 
law consists in accepting an office, or enlisting, or pro- 
curing enlistments or fitting out expeditions by sea or 
land, while in the United States. 

By our law this is declared to be a high misde- 
meanor, and is punishable by fine and imprisonment. 
The President of the United States is authorized to 
employ either the land or naval force of the country 
to prevent any hostile expedition against any nation, 
state, colony or people, which are at peace with us. 



ELECTIONS. 133 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 
Elections. 

1. One of the cardinal principles upon which our 
government is founded, and one to which the people 
adhere with the greatest tenacity, is that governments 
derive their just powers from the consent of the gov- 
erned; and although all the people cannot in person 
be present to approve or to disapprove of the laws by 
which they are to be governed, yet under our form of 
government we approximate as nearly to such a con- 
dition of things as is practicable. This is effected by 
the Representative system. A few are chosen who 
represent the wishes and sentiments of the many 

The men chosen to make and administer our laws, 
are not so chosen from the personal regard the people 
have for them ; but for the principles they are known 
to entertain, and which correspond with those of the 
people who choose them. The Representative is 
bound to carry out the sentiments of those who elect 
him, and to do what they would do if they acted for 
themselves. 

2. From this principle it becomes a matter of the 
first importance to know what the will of the people 
is in regard to the various questions which arise from 
time to time, relating to the policy of the government, 
and the laws to be enacted to carry out that policy. 
The means used to determine these questions are our 
elections. These are looked to with great interest* 



134 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

and sometimes with great excitement, as they furnish 
the only occasions in which the mass of the people 
can act upon the government, by electing such men 
as they want to make and administer their laws. 
Hence at the close of our elections it is pretty well 
known what measures are to be pursued, by the prin- 
ciples of the men elected. 

3. These remarks, however, apply with greater force 
to the State governments, and to the election of State 
officers than to the officers of the United States ; for 
Congressmen are indeed the only officials in the gene- 
ral government for whom the people directly vote. 
Though it is often said that the President is elected by 
them, this is not strictly correct. The people do not 
vote directly for either President or Yice President. 
They vote for electors, and these electors vote for those 
officers. This, it is true, is but a circuitous way of 
reaching the same result ; for the electors have always 
faithfully carried out the wishes of their constituents, 
and voted for the same candidates for whom the 
people would have voted if our constitutional forms 
allowed them to vote directly for these candi- 
dates, without the intervening and cumbrous ma- 
chinery of Presidential electors. We think a great 
improvement in the modus operandi would be effected 
by such a change in our Constitution as would give 
the election directly to the people. 

4. There is some analogy between the election of 
the President and the election of the United States 
Senators. In the first instance the people choose 
electors, and these elect the President; in the latter, 



ELECTIONS. 135 

the people elect the members of their Legislatures, 
and these elect the Senators. Then, as to the other 
officers of the general government, they are appointed 
by their superiors : the most important ones by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, and the minor ones by the heads of depart- 
ments, or some one higher in rank than the appointees. 
Thus we see that, with the exception of the members 
of the House of Representatives, the people do not 
vote directly for any of the officials of the United 
States government. Yet by this kind of proxy vote, 
about the same result is obtained. 

5. Of all our elections none is considered of so much 
importance as the Presidential. These come, as before 
said, every four years, because the Constitution pro- 
vides that the term for which a President is chosen, 
shall be four years. We have thought it would be 
quite interesting to some of our readers, and at the 
same time would help to preserve the political history 
of our nation, to give a brief account of each Presiden- 
tial election, together with the names of the candidates 
and some of the prominent circumstances connected 
with them. This will be found in the following chap- 
ter, and we hope will materially aid those who wish to 
know something of the men and times gone by. Our 
elections, both for the general and State governments, 
are by ballot, instead of viva voce, (the living voice), as 
in some countries. 

The ballot is a small piece of paper, with the name 
of the candidate or candidates printed or written upon 
it, and then folded in such a manner as to hide them, 



136 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

bo that no one but the voter can tell what names are 
on his ballot. A vote by viva voce, is when the voter, 
in the presence of the inspectors of the election, audi- 
bly and clearly calls out the name of the candidate for 
whom he votes, and thus proclaims in the hearing of 
all present how he votes. But the ballot enables the 
voter to vote secretly if he chooses to do so. 

6. Our elections for President, for Congressmen, for 
Governors of the several States and their respective 
Legislatures, are more exciting than those for other 
minor officers. Much is said and much is written of a 
very inflammatory character. The liberty of the press 
and the liberty of speech are most shamefully perver- 
ted, sometimes into abuse and slander. When these 
vicious practices shall cease, as we hope they will, the 
government will stand on firmer ground than it wow 
does. 



PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 137 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

Presidential Elections, with notices of Pacts 
and Circumstances connected with them. 

The convention which formed the Constitution of the 
United States, fixed upon the first Wednesday of Jan- 
nary, 1789, for the election of the first Presidential 
electors, and the first Wednesday of February of the 
same year for the election of the first President, and 
the first Wednesday of March (which was the fourth), 
for putting the new government into operation. The 
election of the electors, and of the President by them, 
were carried out to the letter ; but the government 
did not get into operation until the 30th April, nearly 
two months after the specified time, for the elected 
Mjembers of Congress were tardy in convening at New 
York (the place fixed upon for the first session) ; and 
it was not until the 30th of April, that Washington 
was inaugurated as President. But as the fourth of 
March was the time which it was intended that it 
should take place, it was reckoned as the date from 
which Washington's administration commenced; and 
the date both of the commencement and termina- 
tion of every Presidential term since. Hence, the 
fourth of March of every fourth year is an important 
epoch in our political history, as it is the time when a 
new administration comes into power, or the com- 
mencement of the second term of an incumbent who 
has been re-clcctcd. 



138 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

FIRST ELECTION, 1789. 

George "Washington was unanimously elected Presi- 
dent, and John Adams, Yice President. The Vice 
Presidency at this and the three succeeding elections, 
was determined according to the provisions of the 
Constitution, as it then stood ; which were, that the 
candidate for President who received the high- 
est number of votes should be President ; and he who 
received the next highest should be Yice President. 
But this provision was changed by the twelfth amend- 
ment, proposed in 1803, which went into effect at the 
next election, 1804. Previous to that we hear nothing 
of any candidate for Yice President. By the provis- 
ions of said amendment, the electors vote one name for 
President and another for Yice President. But pre- 
vious to that, the electors voted for two candidates with- 
out designating which for President, or which for Yice 
President, knowing that the one receiving the largest 
number would have the first place, and the next high- 
est the second. This caused much confusion and un- 
certainty as to the intentions of the electors. After 
four elections conducted upon this plan, the Constitu- 
tion was amended ; since which, without change, all 
the elections have been conducted as directed in this 
amendment. 

In our comments on the first election we may as well 
notice another great change which has gradually taken 
place in regard to the mode of choosing the electors. 
The Constitution says that the Presidential electors 
shall be appointed, in each State, in such manner as 
the Legislature thereof shall direct. Xow this left the 



PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 139 

Legislature with power to appoint them itself, or to 
order their appointment or election in any other way. 
The electors for the first Presidential election, we 
think (though we have seen no historical record of the 
fact), were all chosen by the State Legislatures ; but 
soon after we find that different methods were used in 
different States. In some, the Legislatures chose them ; 
in others they were elected by popular vote ; and it 
seems that this plan was the one most approved of, for it 
finally became almost universal, and was adopted by ev- 
ery State except South Carolina, which never did give 
this election to the people, (at least not before the Rebel- 
lion). For these reasons we cannot give the popular 
vote of the earlier Presidential elections, as we have 
done of those in later years ; because the people in 
several of the States did not directly vote for electors. 
When we have given it, it must be remembered that 
South Carolina is not included. 

But eleven States participated in the first election. 
North Carolina and Rhode Island had not at this time 
ratified the Constitution; consequently they could 
take no part in it. At this time political parties were 
very indistinctly defined. The only noticable political 
difference consisted in approval or disapproval of the 
new Constitution. Its friends were called Federalists, 
among whom Washington was numbered. Those who 
had opposed the adoption of the Constitution were 
called anti-Federalists. At the first election there 
were but sixty-nine electors. 

SECOND ELECTION, 1702. 

Washington and Adams were both re-elected to 



140 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

the same positions for a second term. Washington 
was again unanimously elected. Vermont and Ken- 
tucky had both been admitted into the Union since 
the last election ; which made fifteen States that took 
part in this. At the second election there were one 
hundred and thirty-two electors. 

THIRD ELECTION, 1796. 

There were four candidates in the field at this time 
for the office of President of the United States, viz. : 
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr and 
Thomas Pinckney. 

Adams received 71 electoral votes. 
Jefferson " 69 " " 

Pinckney " 59 " " 

Burr " 38 " 

This result made Adams President, and Jefferson 
Vice President. 

A new State — Tennessee — had been admitted since 
the last election, which made sixteen in the Union at 
this time. 

FOURTH ELECTION, 1800. 

The same four candidates were again in the field at 
this election; Adams and Pinckney as Federalists, and 
Jefferson and Burr as anti-Federalists, who about this 
time took the name of Republicans. 

Jefferson and Burr received 73 of the electoral votes. 
Adams " 64 

Pinckney " 63 " 

No one having received a majority, the election, ac- 
cording to the provisions made in the Constitution, 



PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 141 

went to the House of Representatives, for the first time. 
The result was that Jefferson was elected President, 
and Aaron Burr, Yice President. This result was not 
effected until the thirty-sixth ballot, and occupied 
seven days. The contest was between Jefferson and 
Burr, the two candidates who had received the highest 
vote of the electors. 

No new States had been admitted since the last elec- 
tion, so there were but sixteen which participated in 
this. 

The result of this election proved the complete over- 
throw of the Federal party; and it never regained its 
power. 

FIFTH ELECTION, 1804. 

The twelfth amendment of the Constitution having 
been duly ratified before this election, we now, in ac- 
cordance with its provisions, for the first time find 
candidates for the Yice Presidency brought forward. 

Mr. Burr having been dropped, Thomas Jefferson 
and George Clinton were put forth by the Republicans 
for President and Yice President, and Charles C. 
Pinckney and Rufus King by the Federalists, for the 
same positions. 

Jefferson and Clinton each received 162 of the elec- 
toral votes. 

Pinckney and King only received 14 votes. 

The admission of Ohio, in 1802, made seventeen 
States in the Union at this election. 

SIXTH ELECTION, 1808. 

Mr. Jefferson, after having served two terms, re- 
tired; and James Madison was nominated by the 



142 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Republican party for President. "With this change, 
candidates were the same on both sides as at the former 
election. 

Madison received 122 electoral votes for President, 
and Clinton 113 for Vice President. 

The latter died April 20, 1812, and consequently 
did not serve out his full second term. 

Pinckney and King each received 47 electoral votes. 

"No new State had been admitted since the last elec- 
tion; consequently but seventeen States participated 
in Madison's first election. 

SEVENTH ELECTION, 1812. 

Mr. Madison was re-elected President and Elb ridge 
Gerry, Vice President. But he died on the twenty- 
third of November, 1814, leaving the Yice Presidency 
vacant for the second time during Madison's adminis- 
tration. Mr. Madison's second term was distinguished 
on account of the second war with England, which 
continued from 1812 to 1815. 

De Witt Clinton and Jared Ingersoll were run in 
opposition to Madison and Gerry, who received each 
128 electoral votes. Clinton 89, and Ingersoll 57. 

There were eighteen States at this time. Louisiana 
had been admitted since the last election. 

EIGHTH ELECTION, 1816. 

The same party which had twice elected Jefferson, 
and twice elected Madison, now put James Monroe up 
as their candidate for President, and Daniel D. Tomp- 
kins for Yice President. 

Avery feeble opposition was made by the Federalists, 



PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 143 

who again nominated and ran Pufus King. But he 
only received 34 votes, while Monroe received 183. 

In the early part of this year, Indiana was admitted 
as a State, making nineteen in the Union at this 
election. 

NINTH ELECTION, 1820. 

Monroe and Tompkins were both re-elected without 
opposition. Their term of office did not expire until 
the 4th of March, 1825, making twenty-four years in 
succession during which the Republicans (who 
about this time denominated themselves Democrats), 
had held the reins of government in their hands. All 
three of the Presidents held the office for two terms, 
and were all Virginians. 

Between 1816 and 1820, four new States had been 
admitted, viz. : Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, and 
Maine/making twenty-three which took a part in Mr. 
Monroe's second election. 

TENTH ELECTION, 1824. 

At this time there were four candidates for the office 
of President, viz. : 

Andrew Jackson, who received 99 of the electoral votes. 
John Quincy Adams, " 84 " " 

William II. Crawford, " 41 » « 

Henry Clay, « 31 " " 

Neither of the candidates having received a majority, 
the election for the second time went to the House, 
where the vote was taken by States, Adams receiving 
13, Jackson 7, and Crawford 4 votes. Mr Adams was 
elected President. 

John C. Calhoun, against whom there had been very 



144 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

little opposition, had been elected by the electors by a 
large majority. 

Twenty-four States participated in this election, Mis- 
souri having been admitted since the last. But only 
eighteen of them chose their electors by popular vote. 
Six *of them continued to elect them by their Legis- 
latures. 

ELEVENTH ELECTION, 1828. 

At this election Andrew Jackson succeeded to the 
Presidency, and John C. Calhoun was re-elected Vice 
President. 

The opposition candidate for President was John 
Quincy Adams, and for Vice President, Richard 
Push. 

Jackson received 650,028 of the popular, and 178 of 
the electoral votes; and Adams received 512,158 of the 
popular, and 83 of the electoral votes. This was per- 
haps the most strongly contested and most bitter elec- 
tion that ever transpired in this country. 

No new State had been admitted since 1824, so 
there were but twenty-four States in the Union at this 
election. 

TWELFTH ELECTION, 1832. 

Andrew Jackson was re-elected President, and Mar- 
tin Yan Buren Vice President, by the Democratic 
party. 

Henry Clay was the opposing Whig candidate for 
the Presidency, and John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, 
for the Vice Presidency. 

Of the popular vote, Jackson received 682,502 
Clay " 550,189 



Jackson's majority, 132,313 



PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 145 

Of the electoral vote, Jackson received 219, and 
Clay, 49. 

There had been no increase of States since the last 
election, so but twenty-four States voted at this. 

THIRTEENTH ELECTION, 1836. 

The Democrats nominated their Vice President for 
the office of President, and Richard M. Johnson, for 
that of Vice President, at this election. 

Gen. William Henry Harrison and several other 
candidates, without concert of action or unanimity of 
design, were run in opposition to Yan Buren, but he 
had a majority over all. 

The popular vote stood for Van Buren, 762,149 

For Harrison and others, 736,736 



Van Buren' s majority, 25,413 

Michigan and Arkansas were admitted early in this 
year, which made twenty-six States at the period of 
this election. 

FOURTEENTH ELECTION, 1840. 

The same candidates were again nominated at this 
election that ran at the last ; with this exception, that 
the Whigs dropped all others and concentrated on Gen- 
eral Harrison. 

Hence the opposing ticket stood : 

Whig — William Henry Harrison, for President, and 
John Tyler for Vice President. 

Democratic — Martin Van Buren, for President, ana 
Richard M. Johnson, for Vice President. 



146 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

The popular vote showed this result : 

For Harrison, 1,274,783 

" VanBuren, 1,128,702 



Harrison's majority, 46,081 

This was one of the most exciting elections ever 
known in the United States. The "Whigs adopted the 
practice of singing political songs at their meetings. 
It was called " The Log-Cabin and Hard-Cider Cam- 
paign," because the Whigs built log cabins and held 
their meetings in them, and drank hard cider, to bur- 
lesque the remark of a Democrat, that General Harri- 
son lived in a log cabin and drank hard cider. 

He lived only one month and two days after his in- 
auguration; and John Tyler became acting President, 
in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution, 
which were now applied for the first time since the gov- 
ernment was established. 

No new State had been added since 1836, so that the 
same number acted in this election, as took part in the 
previous one, viz. : twenty-six. 

FIFTEENTH ELECTION, 1844. 

The Whig and Democratic parties placed them- 
selves in battle array, with Henry Clay as candidate 
for President, and Theodore Frelinghuysen for Yice 
President, on the side of the WTiigs ; and James K. 
Polk for President, and George M. Dallas for Yice 
President, on the Democratic side. 

The popular vote at this election showed the follow- 
ing result : 



PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 147 

For Polk and Dallas, 1,335,834 

" Clay and Frelinghuysen, 1,297,033 

Polk's majority, 38,801 

The Abolitionists ran Mr. Birney for President, and 
he received 62,270 votes. 

This was the third time Mr. Clay had been a candi- 
date, and the third time he had been defeated, to the 
great sorrow of a majority of the people of the United 
States, for many who voted against him on purely 
party grounds, really desired his election. 

The most prominent question at issue between the 
contending parties at this time was the annexation of 
Texas, which the Democrats favored, and the Whigs 
opposed. 

Mr. Polk's administration was distinguished by the 
war between the United States and Mexico, which 
grew out of the annexation of Texas. Since 1836, 
there had been no accessions of new States, and hence 
there were but twenty-six in the Union at this election. 

SIXTEENTH ELECTION, 1848. 

The political tide turned at this election in favor of 
the Whigs, or, in the triangular fight, Democrat 
slaughtered Democrat, and Gen. Taylor won the field. 
The order of battle was on this wise: the Whigs 
massed their forces under Gen. Zachary Taylor, while 
the Democrats divided theirs into two divisions, with 
as much hostility to each other, as to their old and 
common enemy the Whigs. Gen. Lewis Cass was at 
the head of the iirst and largest division, while Mr. 



148 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Van Buren commanded the second and smaller divi- 
sion. 

"When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war." 
"When Democrat meets Democrat, then comes defeat. 

But to drop military figures, the respective candi- 
dates at this election were : Whig, Zachary Taylor for 
President, and Millard Fillmore for Yice President; 
Democrat, Lewis Cass for President, and "William 0. 
Butler of Kentucky for Yice President. Free Soil 
Democrats, Martin Van Buren for President, and 
Charles F. Adams for Vice President. 

After the election, the popular vote showed this 
result : 

Taylor and Fillmore 1,362,024 

Cass and Butler 1,222,419 

Van Buren and Adams 291,678 

Mr. Van Buren opposed the regular Democratic 
candidate on the ground that he (Van Buren) was op- 
posed to any further extension of slavery, while Mr. 
Cass and his friends were not. 

Gen. Taylor died on the 9th of July, 1850, after ad- 
ministering the government 1 year, 4 months and 4 
days, and for the second time since the government 
was put into operation, the Vice President became the 
acting President. 

Since the year 1844, four new States, viz. : Texas, 
Florida, Iowa and Wisconsin had been admitted ; 
which made thirty States in the Union at this election. 

SEVENTEENTH ELECTION, 1852. 

f At this election the Democrats regained their lost 



PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 149 

power, with Franklin Pierce for their Chief Magis- 
trate, and William P. King* for the second. 

The Whigs put General Winfield Scott in nomina- 
tion for President, and William A. Graham of North 
Carolina for Vice President. 

Pierce and Xing received 1,590,490 popular votes. 

Scott and Graham " 1,378,589 " 



Majority for Pierce and King 211,901 

Perhaps no Presidential election ever occurred in 
the United States, in which there was less interest than 
in this; for neither party appeared to be very well 
pleased with their candidates. 

This Whig defeat was so disastrous to that party 
that it disbanded immediately afterwards, and became 
extinct. 

Since 1848, California had been admitted, making 
thirty-one States at the time of this election. 

EIGHTEENTH ELECTION, 1856. 

The Presidential campaign of this year was opened 
with three candidates for the Presidency in the field ; 
as follows : 

James Buchanan and John C. Brcckenridge, for 
President and Vice President, on the Democratic side. 

As stated in our notice of the election of 1852, the 
Whig party had become extinct. But a new one had 
been organized, whose members called themselves Re- 
publicans, for the purpose of opposing the further ex- 
tension of slavery. 

^William E. King, <>i* Alabama, died April 18, 1853, and never 

took bis seat. 



150 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

This party nominated John C. Fremont and William 
L. Dayton, for President and Vice President. 

A fraction of the American party yet remained 
alive, and they put Millard Fillmore and Andrew J. 
Donnelson in nomination as their candidates. This 
party was organized in opposition to the election of 
foreigners to office. 

The popular vote showed this result : 

For Buchanan and Breckenridge 1,803,029 

" Fremont and Dayton 1,342,164 

" Fillmore and Donnelson 874,625 

Buchanan was elected, but by a plurality vote. Fre- 
mont and Fillmore together had a majority of 413,760 
votes ; thirty-one States, the same as at the last elec- 
tion, participated in this. Mr. Buchanan's administra- 
tion is distinguished as the one under which the late 
rebellion broke out, and which was followed by our 
civil war. He fell into disgrace by refusing to do any- 
thing to suppress the rebellion. 

NINETEENTH ELECTION, 1860. 

The period for another Presidential election return- 
ed in November of this year, and four candidates 
were put into the field. 

Abraham Lincoln, by the Republican party, for 
President, and Hannibal Hamlin for Yice President. 

Stephen A. Douglas, by the Northern Democrats, 
for President, and Herschei Y. Johnson for Vice Pre- 
sident. 

John C. Breckenridge, by the Southern Democrats, 
for President, and Joseph Lane for Yice President. 



PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 151 

John Bell, by the American party, for President, 
and Edward Everett for Vice President. 

Three candidates against one, so divided the strength 
of the opposition to Mr. Lincoln, that it insured his 
election ; but by a plurality vote. 

The popular vote forLincoln and Hamlin was 1,866,452 
Douglas and Johnson 1,375,157 
Breckenridge and Lane 847,953 
Bell and Everett 590,631 

The three latter together had a majority of 947,289 
votes over Lincoln. The whole vote was much larger 
than any ever before given at a Presidential election, 
and amounted to 4,680,193. By the census taken this 
year, the whole population in the States, including 
slaves, and excluding the Territories whose population 
cannot vote for President, was 31,148,048. Two new 
States, Minnesota and Oregon, had been admitted 
since the last election, making thirty-three States 
which voted at this. 

The ostensible and prominent questions which divi- 
ded the supporters of these candidates at this election, 
were as follows : 

Lincoln's opposed the extension of slavery; Brecken- 
ridge's favored it. 

Douglas's favored the submission of the question to 
the new States to be admitted ; leaving them to decide 
whether slavery should be allowed in them or not. 

Bell's ignored the whole question, and called their 
platform "The Constitution and the Laws." 

TWENTIETH ELECTION, 1864. 

The twentieth Presidential election took place this 
year. Abraham Lincoln was re-nominated by the 



152 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

"Republicans. Mr. Hamlin was dropped for Vice* 
President, and Andrew Johnson (a Democrat,) was 
nominated in his place, on account of his loyalty dur- 
ing the rebellion. 

Gen. George B. McClellan and George H. Pendle- 
ton were nominated by the Democratic party as their 
candidates for President and Vice President. 

The popular vote was as follows: 

For Lincoln and Johnson 2,223,035 

" McClellan and Pendleton 1,811,754 



Total popular vote 4,034,789 

This shows more than a half a million less votes 
than at the election of 1860. The cause of this was 
that eleven of the Southern States had seceded from 
the United States in 1860 and 1861, and still continued 
in that condition ; and consequently did not vote at 
this election. But two new States had been added 
since the last election, viz. : Kansas and West Virginia. 
These made 35 States in all, but by deducting the 11 
seceded States, only 24 were left to vote at this election. 

Mr. Lincoln's administration will long continue to 
be one of the most distinguished on record, on account 
of the civil war which raged during the whole period 
of it. 

His assassination, within little more than a month 
after he had entered upon his second term, filled the 
nation with sincere mourners, and shocked the moral 
sense of the world to an extent rarely felt at any pre- 
vious event. 

His death elevated the Yice President to the posi- 
tion of acting President; this being the third instance 
of the kind in the history of our government. 



PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 158 

TWENTY-FIRST ELECTION — 1868. 

This was the last Presidential election, and will be, 
until November, 1872. 

General Ulysses S. Grant, of Illinois, and Schuyler 
Colfax, of Indiana, were the Republican candidates for 
President and Vice President. They were elected by 
about 300,000 majority of the popular vote. 

Horatio Seymour, of New York, and Francis P. 
Blair, of Missouri, were the Democratic candidates for 
the same office. 

This was the third successive election at which the 
Republican party succeeded. The two great issues in 
this contest related to questions affecting the public 
debt, and the manner of reconstructing the States 
lately in rebellion. 

The Republicans advocated the payment of the pub- 
lic debt in gold — that is, that portion of it which the 
government had stipulated thus to pay, and the por- 
tion, also, which had been generally understood as 
payable in gold. They also advocated that mode of 
reconstruction known as the Congressional plan. 

Some of the Democrats advocated the payment of 
the debt in paper money ; and as to reconstructing the 
seceded States, they advocated the plan of Mr. John- 
son, the acting President. 

The States of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas, took 
no part in this election, not having complied with the 
conditions imposed by Congress. 



154 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEKNMENT. 



CHAPTER XXXYI. 
Electors. 

1. An elector, in the broadest sense of the word, 
means anybody who votes at an election for any per- 
son for any office or position, whatever it may be, and who 
is generally styled a voter. But in a more restricted 
sense, and that in which it is used here, elector means 
a person chosen to elect the President and Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States. Two different methods 
have been used to choose these electors, and both were 
in conform^ with the Constitution ; for it says that 
each State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legis- 
lature thereof may direct, a number of electors equal 
to the whole number of Senators and Representatives 
to which the State may be entitled in Congress. 
!N"ow this left the Legislatures of the respective States 
to appoint the electors themselves, or to direct their 
appointment in any other way. Hence in some States 
the Legislatures chose them, and in others they passed 
acts directing their election by the people; and as far 
down as 1824 in six of the States the Legislatures con- 
tinued to appoint or elect them themselves: while in 
all the remaining States their election was given 
directly to the people, and this method has now be- 
come universal in all the States, and is the one which 
seems to be most approved by the people. 

2. These electors, when chosen, must meet in their 
respective States on the first Wednesday of December 
— that is, when a Presidential election occurs (which 



ELECTORS. 155 

is every fourth year;) and when assembled, they are 
denominated the electoral colleges, and vote for one 
man for President, and another for Vice President; 
after which these votes are sent to the President of the 
Senate of the United States by a messenger selected 
for that express purpose. When this is done, the 
duties of the electors are completed, and they have 
nothing more to do in the matter. The college is 
dissolved, never to meet again. But in four years, at 
the next Presidential election, a new college will as- 
semble for the same purpose, and to perform the 
same duty. 

3. When t4iese votes reach Washington, the Senate 
and the House of Representatives assemble together 
on the second Wednesday in February, and in their 
presence the votes are opened and counted, and it is 
then declared who has been elected President and 
Vice President of the United States for the next four 
years. Until quite lately the Presidential elections 
were held in different States on different days; but by 
an act of Congress, one day for this election is now 
designated throughout all the States, and that day is 
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. 
This is the method which the Constitution has declared 
shall be used in the election of the President; but it 
is a clumsy and cumbrous piece of machinery — awheel 
within a wheel — and we hope it will soon be worn 
out, and the people will be allowed to vote directly for 
the candidates they prefer. This would enable them 
to vote for their choice for Vice President, which they 
cannot always now do, for the electors are bound to 
vote for the Vice President who runs on the ticket 
with the President. Hence if a voter wishes to vote 
for a certain candidate for President, he must vote for 
the Vice President who runs on the same ticket, 
whether he prefers him or not. 



156 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER XXXVUL. 

Ambassadors, Foreign Ministers, Charge 
d'Aflaires. 

1. Foreign Ministers are the representatives of one 
nation to another, and are the agents used to regulate 
their political relations and commercial intercourse; to 
make treaties, and to settle disputes and misunderstand- 
ings which may occur between them. The office of a 
foreign minister is one of great dignity and honor. He 
ought to have extensive knowlege of national affairs, 
sound judgment, prudence and wisdom; for by these 
he may prevent contention, strife and war. This offi- 
cer isnot peculiar to our government, or to our times. 
Nearly all civilized nations of any standing or impor- 
tance, both receive and send them, and did so in an- 
cient times. 

2. By the laws of nations, ambassadors are exempt from 
arrest, imprisonment or prosecution ; because they are 
the representatives of the sovereign or nation who sent 
them. Even their servants are secure from arrest, and 
their property exempt from seizure for debt. The 
law of Congress protecting foreign ministers to this 
country, is but an enactment of what was before known 
to be the law of nations, all over the civilized world ; 
and a violation of this well recognized law without 
reparation and satisfaction, would be a cause of war 
Sigainst the offending party. 

3. Our own foreign ministers of all grades are ap- 



FOREIGN MINISTERS. 157 

pointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate. They are not, however, the 
representatives of the President, but of the govern- 
ment of the United States. We said of all grades, 
for there are grades of these officials, different in dig- 
nity and power. They are distinguished also by dif- 
ferent names which indicate their rank, viz. : Ambas- 
sadors, Envoys Extraordinary, and Ministers Plenipo- 
tentiary, Ministers Resident, and Charge d' Affaires. 

AMBASSADORS. 

4. This title in our country has no very specific mean- 
ing. It designates, however, a minister of the highest 
grade; but does not distinguish between one who goes 
to reside in the country whither he is sent, and one 
who is sent for some special purpose ; such as that of 
negotiating a treaty of peace, or some other particular 
matter with which he is charged, and when that is ac- 
complished returns home. In the latter case he is 
frequently styled a commissioner, because he was duly 
authorized, and commissioned by his government to act 
for it ; but in both cases the officer is an ambassador, 
for that word means a person authorized and sent to 
transact business for his government. 

ENVOYS EXTRAORDINARY AND MINISTERS PLENIPOTENTIARY. 

5. These titles designate ministers of the highest 
class; but generally refer to such as go to reside in 
the country where sent, and with fuH power to act for 
their government, in all matters and things of a diplo- 
matic character. 

Where negotiations become necessary between the 



158 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

two nations, permanent ministers of this grade are only- 
sent to great powers — governments of the higher class. 
At the present time we have twelve foreign minis- 
ters of this class, one in each of the following coun- 
tries : Austria, Brazil, Chili, China, France, England, 
Italy, Mexico, Peru, Prussia, Russia, and Spain. Those 
to England and France, receive in cash $17,500 per 
year salary, the one to Peru, §10,000, and each of the 
others $12,000. 

MINISTERS RESIDENT. 

• 

6. These are not considered so high in rank as those 
termed envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipoten- 
tiary. Yet they are clothed with nearly the same 
powers, but are sent to countries of less importance, 
and receive less salaries, viz. : $7,500. 

At this time we have twenty of this grade, one in 
each of the following places: Argentine Confederation, 
Belgium, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, 
Guatemala, Hawaiian Islands, Honduras, Japan, Neth- 
erlands, United States of Columbia, Nicaragua, Para- 
guay, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, 
and Venezuela. 

COMMISSIONERS. 

7. There are a still lower grade of ministers (if we 
may call them so), or government agents, who reside 
abroad. They are sent to look after the interests of 
our government and its citizens in places of not much 
importance, and where there is but little to do. They 
also receive but small pay. TVe have now but two of 
them, one in Hayti, and one at Liberia, in Africa. 



FOREIGN MINISTERS. 159 

CHARGE D'AFFAIRES. 

8. These officials rank as the lowest grade of min- 
isters or diplomatic officers, and are not clothed with 
much authority or power, excepting when authorized 
to act in the room of a minister of higher rank, whose 
place is for the time being vacant. In this case con- 
suls have been authorized to act in place of ministers; 
but not unless authorized to do so by the President of 
the United States. 

SECRETARIES OF LEGATION. 

9. Secretaries of Legation may with propriety be 
noticed under the general head of ministers, although 
they are not ministers of any grade, but are appointed 
by the same powers that appoint ministers, and accom- 
pany them merely as their secretaries. In the absence 
of a charge d'affaires, they are sometimes authorized 
to act in his place. The position is not one of great 
dignity, nor is the compensation large. 



160 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER XXXVm. 
Consuls. 

1. Consuls are officers not peculiar to our govern- 
ment. They are known and employed by many, if 
not all of the civilized nations of the world, and are 
recognized by the law of nations. Their duties and 
fields of action are always in foreign countries — never 
at home. Although they are the agents of the gov- 
ernment that employs them, yet many of their duties 
require them to act for and in behalf of the private 
citizens of their country who may happen to be within 
their consulate. 

2. The Constitution provides that the President and 
Senate shall appoint all our consuls. The President 
signs their commissions, which bear the great seal of 
the United States, and which prove to the government 
where they are sent that they are duly appointed and 
authorized to discharge the duties of consuls at the 
ports or places to which they have been appointed. 

3. In order to show the nature of a consul's duties, 
such as the laws impose upon him, we will state the 
substance of several acts relating to this subject. 

1. "Whenever a vessel belonging to a citizen of the 
United States arrives at the port where he is stationed, 
it is his duty to receive the ship's papers, and to see 
if they are all correct. 

2. It is his duty to provide for sick, disabled, and 
destitute American seamen, and to send them home 
by some vessel going to the United States. 



CONSULS. 161 

3. He must hear the complaints of seamen, and set- 
tle disputes between the captain and men ; and for 
good cause he may discharge the whole ship's crew. 

4. It is made his duty to receive and take care of 
the personal property of any citizen of the United 
States who has died within his consulate, and to send 
any balance which may be left after paying his debts 
and necessary expenses, to the Treasury of the United 
States, to be held in trust for the legal claimants. He 
must also give notice to the Secretary of State of the 
death of such person. 

4. For the purpose of carrying out and executing 
certain treaties made between the United States and 
China, Japan, Siam and Turkey, consuls to those 
countries have been empowered with judicial func- 
tions. They were allowed to act as judges, and to try 
and punish citizens of the United States who had com- 
mitted crimes there. These, however, were extraor- 
dinary powers in special cases, and by no means com- 
mon to the consular office. 

5. In the absence of a minister or diplomatic agent 
of the United States, the President may authorize a 
consul to perform the duties of such foreign minister; 
but these powers are rarely conferred on them. Their 
ordinary duties relate to commercial affairs, and to 
such as are before stated. 

6. A vice consul, or deputy consul, is one appointed 
to act temporarily in case of sickness or absence of 
the consul. His powers, while acting, are the same as 
those of the consul in whose place he acts. Every 
consul is required to give bonds for the faithful per- 
formance of his duties. (6) 



162 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

7. Our commerce lias been extended to almost every 
part of the globe, and for this reason we need a great 
number of these officials. Their services are required 
at all great seaports, and at many smaller ones. Their 
compensation varies according to the amount of busi- 
ness to be transacted by them, from $7,500 down to 
$500. Some do not receive any salary, but are al- 
lowed the fees they are authorized to charge for their 
services. 

8. A consul is to some extent a* representative of his 
government, and is therefore treated with considera- 
tion and respect. An insult to him is looked upon as 
an insult to his country, for he is a kind of general 
agent for his government and people. It is his duty 
to give them all such information as he possesses in 
relation to the laws and practices of the country to 
which he is sent, which it would be important for them 
to know whether at home or abroad ; and especially is 
it his duty to look after the interests and welfare of 
his countrymen when they are within his consulate, 
and to see that no wrong or injustice is done to them 
by the people or government where he resides. 



TREATIES. 163 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 
Treaties. 

1. If two individuals enter into a written contract 
or agreement, in which each agrees with the other, 
to do, or not to do, certain things therein stated and 
specified; these individuals or parties to the contract, 
as they are called, perform an act which is most like a 
treaty between two nations, States or powers, of any- 
thing we can think of as a comparison or illustration, 
if called to answer the question "what is a treaty." 

In one case two individuals make the contract; in 
the other two nations or governments make it, and it 
is called a treaty, when governments are the contracting 
parties. 

2. Treaties have often been of great service to the 
world, both in ancient and modern times. By these 
negotiations, wars have been prevented, friendly rela- 
tions maintained, and commercial intercourse kept up, 
advantageously to both parties. Treaties may be ne- 
gotiated by any persons properly authorized by their 
government to do so ; and any government may author- 
ize such persons as they see fit, to perform these 
important acts. In many cases the ordinary ministers 
who represent their governments to other governments, 
negotiate ordinary treaties. But in cases where some- 
thing of an extraordinary character is to be arranged, 
special ministers or commissioners are sent for this 
express purpose. This was the case at the treaty of 
Ghent, (so called from the name of the place where 



164 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

the commissioners met to arrange it,) in 1814; by 
which, a peace was brought about between England 
and the United States, after the last war between those 
powers. Special ministers, or commissioners, as they 
were denominated, were appointed and sent for this 
very purpose. A treaty of peace was agreed upon by 
the commissioners of the respective countries, and 
hostilities ceased as soon as the news reached the Uni- 
ted States. 

3. In some cases our government has authorized its 
commanding generals to make a treaty with the hos- 
tile nation. It has also given the same power to the 
commanders of our national vessels; and also, in a 
few cases, to our consuls, in countries at a great dis- 
tance from home, such as China, Japan, Siam and 
Turkey. 

The persons authorized to negotiate a treaty, rarely 
act without instructions from their government, as to 
the times and conditions of the proposed " treaty. 
Much, however, must be left to the sound judgment 
and discretion of the negotiators as to the details. 

4. It must be borne in mind that a treaty, although 
mutually agreed upon by the agents of the nations con- 
cerned, is not binding upon either party until pro- 
perly ratified according to the forms of the respective 
governments interested. The modes of ratification 
differ in different governments. In ours the Consti- 
tution confers this power upon the President, by and 
with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senate. 

In absolute monarchies this power rests in the hands 
of the King or Emperor alone. As before stated, every 



TREATIES. 



165 



government may confer the power to negotiate a treaty 
upon such agents as it pleases. It also has the power 
to prescribe such modes of ratifying or confirming it, 
as it pleases. 

5. But when once made and approved, it becomes 
binding not only upon the respective governments 
that made it, but upon all the citizens and subjects of 
that government. It has been held in this country by 
our greatest lawyers and statesmen, that the provisions 
of a treaty bind Congress, the President and every citi- 
zen as much as any Constitutional provision or act of 
Congress. And for this reason our treaties are pub- 
lished in the papers in every State and Territory in the 
Union, in the same manner, and to the same extent, 
as the laws of Congress. 

6. The violation of a treaty by either of the parties 
thereto, is reprehensible and criminal. It is deroga- 
tory to the character of any nation or individual that 
does it. It destroys the confidence of one nation in 
the other, leads to unfriendly feelings and acts between 
the parties, and may bring on a war, if satisfaction is 
not given. Yet such things have been done, and evil 
consequences have always followed. "If you make a 
bargain, stick to it," is a common, trite, and wise 
saying. 

Just here it seems proper to call attention to the 
fact that the Constitution prohibits any State from 
making any treaty with any foreign government. The 
reason for this provision is very obvious, for, if allowed, 
a State might confer privileges upon foreign powers 
which would be incompatible with the interests of other 



166 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

States. Therefore the treaty-making power is kept 
wholly in the hands of the general government, for in 
it every State has its representatives, and a voice in 
every treaty which it makes. 

7. So numerous are the treaties which the United 
States have made with nearly every civilized nation 
upon earth, that it would require a very large volume 
to contain them. They are published with the laws, 
and generally in English and in the language of the 
nation with whom the treaty is made. They may be 
found in the United States Statutes at Large. It 
would require too much space in a work of this kind, 
to give even their titles. 

8. Wars have been stopped; boundry lines between 
nations have been established; commercial intercourse 
arranged; the purchase and sale of lands, and a variety 
of other things have been the subjects of, and formed 
the matter of treaties. Several of our most important 
ones relate to the purchase of territory. We accquired 
the States of Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri, by a 
treaty with France in 1803. It was called the Louisi- 
ana purchase; for it was nothing more than a purchase 
and sale of lands. We also acquired Florida of Spain, 
in 1819, in the same way, and California and New 
Mexico of Mexico, in 1847. 

9. The immense quantities of land purchased of the 
Indians, were obtained by treaties with them. We 
are sorry to say that in some cases they have treach- 
erously violated their treaty obligations; but at the 
same time it should be said by way of extenuating 
their offence, that our own government agents appoin- 



TREATIES. 167 

ted for the purpose of taking care of the interests of 
the poor Indians, have, in connection with the white 
traders among them, shamefully cheated and wronged 
them, and provoked them not only to disregard their 
obligations, but to perpetrate murders, robberies, and 
thefts upon the whites who live near them. At this 
time and for several years past, the Indians are very 
hostile to us, and are prosecuting a war with the 
whites in their vicinity for the reasons above stated. 
"Honesty is the best policy." 

10. In the early part of the year 1867, a treaty was 
negotiated by William H. Seward, our Secretary of 
State, on the part of the United States, and Edward de 
Stoekl, the Russian Minister to the United States, on 
the part of Russia, for the cession of the Russian pos- 
sessions In North America to the United States. 

This treaty may be regarded as one of the most im- 
portant of all our treaties with foreign powers ; for by 
it the United States acquire between 350,000 and 400,- 
000 square miles of territory, in addition to our already 
immense possessions ; and places by far the greater 
part of the northwestern coast of North America un- 
der the control of the United States government. 

For the purpose of giving a specimen of a treaty, 
and showing some of the details of this negotiation, 
we here insert it in full, as agreed upon by the con- 
tracting parties. $7,000,000 in gold is the considera- 
tion which the United States paid Russia for this ter- 
ritory. This treaty has been ratified by both the 
United States and the Russian governments and the 
money ($7,000,000 in gold) has been appropriated for 
the purpose and paid to the Russian Minister. 



168 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
THE RUSSIAN TREATY. 

The following is the text of the Russian- American 
treaty : — 

The United States of America, and his Majesty, 
the Emperor of all the Russias, being desirous of 
strengthening, if possible, the good understanding 
which exists between them, have for that purpose ap- 
pointed as their plenipotentiaries, the President of the 
United States, William H. Seward, Secretary of State, 
and his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, Mr. 
Edward de Stoeckl, his Envoy Extraordinary and 
Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, and the 
said plenipotentiaries, having exchanged their full 
powers, which were found to be in due form, have 
agreed upon and signed the following articles : 

Article I. His Majesty, the Emperor of all the Rus- 
sias, agrees to cede to the United States, by this con- 
vention, immediately upon the exchange of the ratifi- 
cations thereof, all the territory and dominion now 
possessed by his said Majesty on the continent of 
America and in the adjacent islands, the same being 
contained within the geographical limits herein set 
forth, to wit: The eastern limit is the line of demar- 
cation between the Russian and British possessions in 
North America, as established by the convention be- 
tween Russia and Great Britain, of February 28 (16), 
1825, and described in articles third and fourth of said 
convention in the following terms: Commencing from 
the southernmost point of the island called Prince of 
"Wales' Island, which point lies in the parallel of 50 
deg. 40 min. north latitude, and between the 131st and 
133d deg. of west longitude, meridian of Greenwich. 
The said line shall ascend to the north along the chan- 
nel called Portland Channel, as far as the point of the 
continent where it strikes the 56th degree of north 
longitude. From this last mentioned point the line of 
demarcation shall follow the summit of the mountains 



TREATIES. 169 

situated parallel to the coast as far as the point of in- 
tersection of the 141st degree of west longitude of the 
same meridian, and finally from the said point of inter- 
section the said meridian line of the 141st degree in its 
prolongation as far as the Frozen Ocean. "With refer- 
ence to the line of demarcation laid down in the pre- 
ceding article, it is understood — first, that the island 
called Prince of Wales' Island shall belong wholly to 
Russia, and now, by this cession, wholly to the United 
States ; second, that whenever the summit of the moun- 
tains which extend in a direction parallel to the coast 
from the 56th degree of north latitude to the point of 
intersection of the 141st degree west longitude shall 
prove to be at the distance of more than ten marine 
leagues from the ocean, the limit between the British 
possessions and the line of coast which is to belong to 
Russia as above mentioned — that is to say, the limit of 
the possessions ceded by this convention — shall be 
formed by a line parallel to the winding of the coast, 
and which shall never exceed the distance often ma- 
rine leagues therefrom. The western limit, within 
which the territories and dominion conveyed are con- 
tained, passes through apoint in Behring's Strait on the 
parallel of 65 deg. 30 min. north latitude, at its inter- 
section by the meridian, which parses midway between 
the island of Krusenstern, orlgnaalook, and the island 
of Ratmanog, or Noonerbook, and proceeds due north 
without limitation into the same,Frozen Ocean. The 
same western limit beginning at the same initial point, 
proceeds thence in a course nearly north-west through 
Behring's Strait and Behring's Sea, so as to pass mid- 
way between the north-west part of the island of St. 
Lawrence and the south-east point of Cape Ohoukottki 
to the meridian of 172 deg. west longitude. Thence, 
from the intersection of that meridian, in a south-west- 
erly direction, so as to pass midway between the island 
of Attou and the copper island of the Koranddorski 
couplet or group in the North Pacific Ocean, to the 



170 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

meridian of 193 deg. west longitude, so as to include 
in the territory conveyed the whole of the Aleutian 
Islands east of that meridian. 

Art. II. In the cession of territory and dominion made 
by the preceding article, are included the right of prop- 
erty in all public lots and squares, vacant lands, and all 
public buildings, barracks, and other edifices which are 
not private, individual property. It is, however, un- 
derstood and agreed that the churches which have been 
built in the ceded territory by the Russian government 
shall remain the property of such members of the Greek 
Oriental Church resident in the territory as may choose 
to worship therein. Any government archives, papers, 
and documents relative to the territory and dominion 
aforesaid, which may be now existing there, will be 
left in possession of the agent of the United States ; but 
an authenticated copy of such of them as may be re- 
quired will be at all times given by the United States 
to the Russian government, or to such Russian officers 
or subjects as may apply for them. 

Art. III. The inhabitants of the ceded territory, ac- 
cording to their choice, reserving their natural alle- 
giance, may return to Russia within three years ; but 
if they should prefer to remain in the ceded territory, 
they, with the exception of uncivilized tribes, shall be 
admitted to the enjoyment of all the rights, advan- 
tages and immunities of citizens of the United States, 
and shall be maintained and protected in the free en- 
joyment of their liberty, property and religion. The 
uncivilized tribes will be subject to such Jaws and 
regulations as the United States may from time to time 
adopt in regard to aboriginal tribes of that country. 

Art. IY. His Majesty, the Emperor of all the Rus- 
sias, shall appoint, with convenient dispatch, an agent 
or agents for the purpose of formally delivering to a 
similar agent or agents, appointed on behalf of the 
United States, the territory, dominion, property, de- 



TREATIES. 171 

pendencies, and appurtenances which are ceded as 
above, and for doing any other act which may be ne- 
cessary iu regard thereto ; but the cession., with the 
right of immediate possession, is nevertheless to be 
deemed complete and absolute on the exchange of rati- 
fications, without waiting for such formal delivery. 

Art. V. Immediately after the exchange of the rati- 
fications of this convention, any fortifications or mili- 
tary posts which may be in the ceded territory shall be 
delivered to the agent of the United States, and any 
Russian troops which may be in the territory shall be 
withdrawn as soon as may be reasonably and conve- 
niently practicable. 

Art. VI. In consideration of the cession aforesaid, 
the United States agree to pay, at the Treasury in 
Washington, within months after the exchange of 
the ratifications of this convention, to the diplomatic 
representative, or other agent of His Majesty, the Em- 
peror of all Russias, duly authorized to receive the 
same, million dollars in gold. The cession of 

territory and dominion herein made is hereby demand- 
ed to be free and unincumbered by any reservations, 
privileges, franchises, grants, or possessions, by any as- 
sociated companies, whether corporate or incorporate, 
Russian or any other, or by any parties except merely 
private individual property holders ; and the cession 
hereby made conveys all the rights, franchises and 
priviliges now belonging to Russia in the said territory 
or dominion and appurtenances thereto. 

Art. VII. When this convention shall have been 
duly ratified by the President of the United States, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the 
one part, and on the other by His Majesty, the Empe- 
ror of all the Russias, the ratifications shall be ex- 
changed at Washington within from the date hereof, 
or sooner, if possible. In faith whereof the respective 
plenipotentiaries have signed this convention, and 
^hereto affixed the seals .of their arms. 



1T2 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER XL. 
Extradition Treaties. 

1. In the preceding chapter we spoke of treaties 
generally. We now come to a particular kind of them 
called extradition treaties, which are of so recent date, 
that they form a new feature in our diplomacy.* 
Among our treaties with foreign nations, we find 
nothing upon this subject further back than the year 
1842, when a treaty of this kind was made between 
the United States and England, the necessity for 
which arose out of the fact that persons frequently 
committed crimes in England, and then fled to the 
United States (and vice versa), to escape detection and 
punishment ; for they could not be punished in the 
country to which they fled, inasmuch as it had no ju- 
risdiction of a crime committed in a foreign country. 
To check this evil, a treaty was made between the two 
powers, in which they mutually agreed to deliver up, 
each to the other, any criminal who had perpetrated 
crimes of a certain kind (which were named in the 
treaty), in his own country, and afterwards fled to 
the other. This worked well. Its tendency was to 
check crime, and at the same time to multiply the 
chances of detection and punishment. 

2. Subsequently, treaties of the same kind were 

*Diplomact, the art, science and skill of conducting and manag- 
ing negotiations, treaties and international affairs. It also relates to 
the customs, usages and privileges of foreign ministers. All the for- 
eign ministers to any government, arc called the diplomatic hody, 

j 



in 


1843 


a 


1852 


a 


1855 


u 


1857 


a 


1860 


a 


1861 



EXTRADITION TREATIES. 1T3 

made between the United States and the following 
countries: 

France, 

Prussia, and 17 other German States 

Switzerland, 

I3aden 
, Sweden, 

Venezuela, South America, 

The time is probably not distant, when treaties of 
this sort will be made between us and all the civilized 
nations of the world ; for the intercourse between us 
and foreign nations is greater than ever before. 

The effect of these international arrangements is to 
render the perpetration of crime more dangerous than 
it would be if they did not exist. Flight from the 
country where the crime was committed, was formerly 
one of the most effectual methods of escaping the 
penalty. But extradition treaties, Atlantic cables, and 
land telegraphs, have nearly spoiled this game. 

3. An extradition treaty, then, is a mutual agree- 
ment between two nations to deliver up, each to the 
other, upon demand and proper proof of criminality, 
such persons as have committed crimes in one country 
and then fled to the other, that they may be taken 
back, tried and punished where the offence was com- 
mitted. But these demands for escaped criminals 
cannot be sustained if made for any crime whatever. 
They will only be complied with when the crime is 
one which is named in the treaty itself. These crimes, 
upon examination of a number of such treaties, we 
find to be: 1. Murder, or an assault with an intent to 



174 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

commit murder. 2. Piracy. 3. Arson. 4. Robbery. 
5. Forgery, or the uttering of forged papers, or the 
making or circulating counterfeit money, either paper 
or coin. 6. Rape. 7. Embezzlement, and 8. Burglary. 

4. It should be observed that a mere demand for an 
alleged offender is not sufficient. Proof enough to con- 
vince the judge before whom the case is brought, must 
accompany the demand. He must be satisfied that the 
party demanded has committed the alleged offence ; 
when this is done, the judge reports his finding to the 
Secretary of State, whose duty then is, under his hand 
and seal of office, to issue the final writ of extradition ; 
after which the criminal may be taken out of the 
United States (by force if necessary), and back to the 
country where he committed the crime, there to be 
dealt with according to the laws which he violated. 

5. In some of our extradition treaties it is expressly 
stipulated, that neither party (government) shall be 
bound to surrender its own citizens, or any person for 
merely a political offence. In others it is agreed that the 
provisions in the treaty shall not apply to cases where 
the crime was perpetrated before the treaty was made. 
This plea, we think, would be held to be a good 
defence in all cases, whether so stipulated in the treaty 
or not. 

6. The treaties between different nations for the surren- 
der of criminals, are so analagous to one of the provis- 
ions contained in our Constitution, that to insert it here 
will give the reader a clear comprehension of its mean- 



EXTRADITION TREATIES. 175 

ing. If is found in the second section of article 4, and 
reads thus ; — 

" A person charged in any State, with treason, felony, 
or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be 
found in another State, shall on demand of the execu- 
tive authority of the State from which he fled, be de- 
livered up, to be removed to the State having jurisdic- 
tion of the crime. 



176 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER XLI. 
Letters of Marque and Eeprisal. 

1. The Constitution (Art. 1, Sec. 8), gives Congress 
power to declare war, and to grant letters of marque 
and reprisal. This is an act never to be done, but in 
time of war. Congress itself does not issue the letters, 
but authorizes the President to do so. An act was 
passed in 1863, expressly giving him this authority. A 
letter of marque and reprisal may be thus denned : 

2. It is a written commission signed and sealed by a 
competent authority of our nation, giving to the com- 
mander of a private armed vessel, called a privateer, 
authority to capture the ships and goods belonging to 
the subjects of another nation, between which nations 
there is an existing war. This is a general definition. 
But when such letters are issued by the United States, 
they are signed by the President, and sealed with the 
seal of the United States. "Without such commission, 
thus signed and sealed, any capture made by the com- 
mander of a private vessel, would be piracy. If a cap- 
ture is made, it must be made according to the laws of 
war, as recognized by civilized nations, and according 
to the instructions given by the President. Any con- 
duct on the part of a privateer, contrary to these rules, 
would vitiate his proceedings, and he would not be en- 
titled to the property he had captured. 

3. The captured vessel is called a prize, and must be 
taken into some port of the United States, or into some 
port of a country in amity with the United States, 



LETTERS OP MARQUE AND REPRISAL. 177 

where legal proceedings are taken before some court 
of competent jurisdiction ; and the capture and all the 
the circumstances of it enquired into ; and if all is 
found to have been done according to the laws of civi- 
lized nations, the captured vessel and cargo is con- 
demned as a prize. But if not condemned, the captors 
lose her. "When adjudged to be a lawful prize, the 
ship and cargo are sold and the money divided be- 
tween the officers and men, according to rank, and ac- 
cordingto the laws of Congress on this subject. These 
laws give the whole to the captors, when the ship ta- 
ken is of equal or superior force to the ship making 
the capture ; but if of inferior force, then the United 
States takes one half. 

4. Privateering, as this business is called, was once 
considered a lawful and honorable mode of warfare. It 
was generally practiced between belligerent nations; 
but in later days its propriety and morality have been 
questioned. It is beginning to be looked upon as a 
kind of robbery not very distantly related to piracy. 
That it is robbery no one can deny, and, query, " Can 
it be justified, on the ground that the robber and the 
robbed are the subjects of nations at war with each 
other?" 

5. In Europe an effort has been made to do away 
with this species of warfare. We hope it will yet suc- 
ceed, and that all nations will agree to abolish this sys- 
tem of plunder. Innocent parties arc generally the 
sufferers, while but small injury is done to the power of 
the hostile nation. 



178 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER XLIL 
Suffrage. 

1. The right of suffrage, in its political sense means 
the right to vote for such officers as are elected by the 
people; including officers of the general government, 
as well as those of the State government, for when the 
right of suffrage is conferred upon a man, it gives him 
the right of voting for every elective officer, from the 
President of the United States down to the lowest 
State or municipal officer. 

In the Constitution, or laws of Congress, we find 
but little said on the suffrage question ; because Con- 
gress has never claimed the right or power to legislate 
on this subject. It has been conceded that this mat- 
ter is one which belongs to the States; whatever 
qualifications the respective States required of their 
citizens to vote for their own State officers, have been 
accepted by the general government as the qualifica- 
tions necessary to authorize them to vote for President, 
Yice President and Congressmen, the only officers of 
the United States government for which the people, 
under the provisions of the Constitution as it now 
stands, can vote. 

2. From this statement we see that persons who, in 
one State may vote for President, Vice-President and 
Congressmen, cannot do so in another State; because 
the qualifications of voters in some States differ from 
those of voters in others. For example, some States 
require a residence in the State of one year, before a 
man can enjoy this franchise, other States but six 
months. In most of the States, it is required of for- 



SUFFRAGE. 179 

eigners to become citizens by naturalization before 
they are allowed to vote. But in some this is not re- 
quired. In some of the States colored persons can 
vote. In others this right is not given to them under 
any circumstances.* Although it has long been con- 
ceded that the power of conferring the right of suffrage 
was one which belonged exclusively to the States, and 
although they have been allowed to do in this matter 
as it seemed right to them ; yet it is a question worthy 
of serious thought, whether Congress ought not, by 
law, to establish a uniform qualification of voters, one 
that is alike in all the States, whenever the elector 
votes for President, Vice President or Congressmen ; 
for the people in all the States are affected as much by 
the votes given for those officers, in any one State, as 
they are by those given in their own. 

3. But it has always been a troublesome question to 
determine in any government where people vote at all, 
"who ought, and who ought not to vote?" In the 
United States the elective franchise is extended further 
than in most other countries. Yet this question here has 
caused a great amount of political discussion. The 
Constitutions of several of the States have been changed 
in the effort to adjust this question on a correct basis. 
Up to this day, it remains unsettled in some of its fea- 
tures and details. Some contending that it is too 
much extended, that is, that it is granted to persons 
who ought not to have it, while to others it is denied. 

*Since the above was written, and since the commencement of the 
year 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution has been 
ratified by a sufficient number of the States, (three fourths,) so that 
it is now a part of that instrument. It annihilates all the laws of 
every State which prohibited colored persons from voting. [See the 
Fifteenth Amendment, p. 412.] 



180 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER XL1TL 
Seals. 

1. Seals are of great antiquity. We read of them 
and of their use as far back as the days of Queen 
Esther. They were then used as they are now, to give 
additional proof of the authenticity or genuineness of 
any document or paper to which they were attached; 
it being much easier to counterfeit a mere signature 
than the impression of a seal. They are of various de- 
vices, patterns and designs, and generally are emblem- 
atic of some historical fact, event or sentiment. They 
are used on papers and documents emanating from 
the government, or from some department of it. The 
law requires them to be attached and affixed to com- 
missions, and many other papers, without which the 
paper would have no legality or validity. Formerly, 
the usual mode of sealing a paper, was to place melted 
wax on the margin, and then press the seal into the 
wax. This left the impression of the seal, and the 
work was finished. 

j. 2. But this mode of affixing seals was rather a slow 
process, and required more time than could often 
be spared for that purpose. In view of which, Con- 
gress, in 1854 passed the following law : 

"In all cases where a seal is necessary by law to any 
commission, process, or other instrument provided for 
by the laws of Congress, it shall be lawful to affix the 
proper seal by making an impression therewith di- 



SEALS. 181 

rectly on the paper to which such seal is necessary, 
which shall be as valid as if made on wax or other ad- 
hesive substance." 

The United States have a seal, denominated " The 
Great Seal." This is in the care and custody of the 
Secretary of State, and it is his duty to affix it to all 
civil commissions* to officers of the United States, ap- 
pointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate, or by the President alone. 

But the law forbids it even to be so affixed to any 
commission, or other instrument, until the President 
has first signed it. Without his signature, the instru- 
ment has no validity. The seal is then affixed in 
proof of the genuineness of his signature. 

3. The Secretary of State and all the other secre- 
taries of the great departments, each have a seal of 
office which is affixed to commissions, and to other in- 
struments emanating from their respective offices. 

Several of the most important bureaus are required 
by law to have seals of office ; for example, the Land 
Office and the Patent Office. "When the United States 
gives a patent (title) to land, it must be sealed by the 
Land Office seal. A patent right must be issued 
under the seal of the Patent Office. 

4. One of the most common and important uses of 
seals arises from the necessity people are often under 
to have copies of records, maps, and various other pa- 
pers, the originals of which are in some of the depart- 
ments at Washington, to be used as evidence in courts, 

*Thc word commission, here means a document or certificate, given 
to one who has received an oflice, in proof of his appointment to 
smd his authority to discharge the duties of that office. 



182 OUTLINES OF IT. S. GOVERNMENT. 

where trials and other legal proceedings are pending. 
hi order to provide for this necessity, Congress has en- 
acted that copies of such records, maps and papers be- 
longing to any of the government officers, under the 
signature of the head of such office, or of its chief 
clerk, with the seal affixed, shall be as competent evi- 
dence in all cases as their original would be. 

GKEAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES. 




In chapter XC we have given a number of forms of 
seals. Over the name of each State we have placed 
the great seal of that State, or, as it is sometimes 
called, its coat of arms. These various devices are 
the mere conceptions of the artist, yet they are em- 
blematic of some political sentiment or of some char- 
acteristic of that State. 



BONDS. 183 

CHAPTER XLIV. 
Bonds. 

1. The vast sums of money annually collected from 
duties, from the sale of public lands, and from all 
other sources from which the revenue of the nation is 
raised ; and then the disbursement of the same to the 
army, to the navy, to the civil officers, and to the vari- 
ous employees of the government, and to the different 
purposes for which the public money is appropriated, 
requires a host of officials and agents to transact all 
this business. Hence the government has collectors of 
customs, collectors of taxes, postmasters, receivers of 
money for the sale of public land, and so on ; all of 
whom are receivers of the public money. These pay 
it into the United States Treasury, from whence it is 
paid out directly to parties having claims against the 
government, or to agents who disburse it to those to 
whom it is due. 

By the dishonesty of the officers and agents who re- 
ceive, hold or disburse these funds, the government 
would be the loser, and the people would be defrauded 
of their money. We say the people, because every 
man who cheats or defrauds the government, cheats 
and defrauds every man, woman and child in the 
country. Hence the detestable character of public 
Bwindlers and defaulters. 

2. But to guard against this as far as possible, the 
law requires a man when he accepts of one of these 
offices, to take an oath, or make a solemn affirmation, 
promising faithfully to perform the duties of the office 
he enters upon. But even this (does not always secure 



184 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

honesty. Some men will violate their oaths for money. 
A further remedy is resorted to for further security 
against dishonesty. For this purpose laws have been 
made, requiring all officers and agents who receive, 
hold or disburse the public money, to give bonds with 
sufficient security for the faithful performance of their 
trust. These bonds hold the sureties as well as the 
officer, and are signed by one and sometimes two or 
three bondsmen of sufficient means to insure the gov- 
ernment against loss. It would be too tedious and 
uninteresting to enumerate all the government officers 
who have to give bonds before they can enter upon 
their duties. Therefore we stated before that the 
law requires all of this class to do so. "We are not 
aware of any exceptions. 

These bonds are given for various amounts, which 
correspond with the amount of money to be received 
or held by the officers who execute them, and when 
signed by the office holder or person bound to the 
government, and by his surety, are held in the Trea- 
sury Department as security for the faithful perform- 
ance of whatever the bounden parties have agreed to 
do. In case of any failure or defalcation, all the par- 
ties signing the bond are held responsible for the 
amount named in the bond ; and may be sued by the 
government, and made to pay all damages. 

But notwithstanding all these precautions, and in 
spite of oaths and bonds, the government is defrauded 
of millions of money by the very men it favors with 
positions of honor and emolument. Reader, should 
you ever hold a position under your .government, let 
not the sin of perjury blacken your soul, nor the 
crime of dishonesty tarnish your character. " Honesty 
is the best policy." "An honest man's the noblest 
work of God." 



OATHS. 185 



CHAPTER XLV. 
Oaths. 

1. An oath is an appeal to God, by him who makes 
it, that what he has said, or what he shall say, is the 
truth. It is the most solemn form under which one 
can assert orpronounce anything. To utter a falsehood 
while under oath is perjury, a crime of the darkest hue. 
One which God has declared he will punish, and one 
which is made infamous, and punishable by fine and 
imprisonment by the laws of the land. 

2. The Constitution (Art. 6, Sec. 3) requires that 
Senators and Representatives, and members of the sev- 
eral State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial 
officers, both of the United States, and of the several 
States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support 
the Constitution. Then in the second article, section 
eight, the form of the oath required of the President 
before he enters upon his duties, is given in these 
words : — 

" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faith- 
fully execute the office of President of the United 
States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, pro- 
tect and defend the Constitution of the United States." 

3. This is all the Constitution says about oaths; but 
it is enough to show that no man (unless he commit 
perjury) can accept office, cither under the United 
States or any State government, unless he in good faith 
will support the Constitution. 



186 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

■ But in the laws enacted by Congress, we find that 
not only official oaths are required ; but in a great va- 
riety of other cases, men who transact business with 
the government are required to verify their accounts 
and statements with an oath. This is particularly the 
case with those who do business with the custom 
house ; such as merchants, shipowners, and masters of 
vessels. Many oaths must be put in the form of affi- 
davits ; that is, the oath must be written and signed by 
the deponent, that the statements made may be pre- 
served. 

4. The form of official oaths varies according to the 
nature of the duties to be performed by the deponent. 
The oath must be taken before the officer enters upon 
his duties. Should he neglect or refuse to do this, his 
acts will be illegal, and he would make himself liable 
to punishment. 

After the late civil war broke out, Congress for the 
purpose of preventing those who had voluntarily taken 
part in the rebellion, from holding thereafter any 
office under the government, passed an act requiring 
every one before he could accept any office, either in 
the civil, military, or naval departments, to take an 
oath in the following form : — 

5. I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have 
never voluntarily borne arms against the United States, 
since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have volun- 
tarily given no aid, countenance, counsel or encour- 
agement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto ; 
that I have neither sought, nor accepted, nor at- 
tempted to exercise the functions of any office whatev- 



OATHS. 187 

er, under any authority or pretended authority in 
hostility to the United States; that I have not yielded 
a voluntary support to any pretended government, au- 
thority, power* or Constitution, within the United 
States, hostile or inimical thereto. And I do further 
swear (or affirm) that to the best of my knowledge and 
ability, I will support and defend the Constitution of 
the United States, against all enemies, foreign and do- 
mestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the 
same; that I take this obligation freely, without any 
mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I 
will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the 
office on which I am about to enter. So help me 
God." 

So strong and comprehensive an oath as this was 
never before required from any officer of the govern- 
ment. It answers the requirements of the Constitu- 
tion, and substantially comprehends all contained in 
any other forms heretofore used. It is at once an oath 
of allegiance, an oath of support of the Constitution, 
andanoath to discharge faithfully the dutiesof the office 
taken. This goes by the name of the Test oath, and 
frequently "The Iron-clad Oath." 

6. The object of binding all officers of the general 
and State governments, by oath, is to place them under 
the most solemn obligation to be faithful and honest in 
the discharge of their duties. They cannot be otherwise 
without committing one of the most flagitious crimes. 
And yet, lamentable to say, men have accepted office 
under these most solemn obligations, and have after- 
wards utterly disregarded them, and have been un faith- 



188 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

ful in every respect, both in the support of the Constitu- 
tion, and in the discharge of their official duties. For this 
cause, although we have an excellent form of govern- 
ment, perhaps the best in the world, yet in its admin- 
istration a great deal that is wrong and corrupt is 
found; and fears have been entertained that it would 
be broken down and destroyed by the corruption of 
those who administer it. Good men should always be 
chosen to make and administer the laws in any coun- 
try, and under any form of government. 






REVENUE. 189 

CHAPTER XLVL 
Revenue. 

1. The revenue of any government is its income, 
or money raised from any source whatever to defray 
the expenses incurred in its administration. These 
expenses are always heavy, are counted by millions, 
and the subjects or citizens of the government must 
pay them in some way ; either by duties on imported 
goods, by direct taxation on property, by payments 
for certain rights and privileges conferred by the gov- 
ernment, &c, &c. Different governments resort to 
different methods to raise their revenue. 

2. The United States have always raised the greater 
part of it by duties on imported goods. These have 
sometimes been found sufficient to defray all expen- 
ses; and at other times insufficient, depending on cir- 
cumstances of a high or low tariff, or on ordinary or 
extraordinary expenses of government. In times of 
war all these resources put together have been insuffi- 
cient, and it has become necessary to borrow money 
to sustain it. War expenses have been the source of 
most of the national debts in all countries. 

3. At the close of the civil war between the North 
and South, the national debt amounted to nearly 
3,000,000,000 of dollars; and this in addition to the 
vast amounts paid during the existence of the war. 
This created the necessity for increasing the revenue 
of the country, and the government to resort to direct 
taxation, in addition to all its ordinary resources, and 



190 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

to all the money it borrowed to sustain the expenses 
of the war. And now after it is over, the taxes are 
continued for the purpose of paying its enormous pub- 
lic debt. This furnishes us with a forcible example of 
one of the great evils of war. 

4. The proceeds of sales of the public lands have 
been another source of revenue to the United States, 
which few other governments possess; because their 
territory is not as extensive as ours, and they have but 
little if any public lands to dispose of. The empires 
of Russia and Brazil may be exceptions to this general 
fact. 

5. Duties collected on imported goods, the sale of 
public lands, the income of the Post Office Department, 
and direct taxation, (when resorted to) are the princi- 
pal sources from which the revenues of the United 
States are raised. There are comparatively small 
amounts, however, raised from other sources; such as 
the duties paid upon the tonnage of vessels, forfeitures 
of goods smuggled or attempted to be smuggled into 
the country; forfeiture of vessels engaged in the smug- 
gling business, prizes taken in time of war, fees paid 
for licenses granted, and for services rendered by cer- 
tain government officials, &c. But all these put to- 
gether are insignificant in amount compared with the 
first named. 

6. The revenues of any government afford a tolera- 
bly correct indication of its wealth, population and 
power. Small and weak ones have small revenues. 
"Wealthy, populous and strong ones, have large revenues. 



INTERNAL REVENUE. 191 



CHAPTER XL VII. 
Internal Revenue. 

1. In our chapter ou Revenue, we observed that di- 
rect taxation was one of the means to which the gov- 
ernment had to resort when the proceeds from import 
duties and ordinary sources fail to meet its expenses. 

The late civil war caused an emergency of this kind. 
All former wars in which the United States had been 
engaged did not require one-quarter of the money for 
their prosecution that this did; and of course the ordi- 
nary revenues of the government were entirely insuffi- 
cient to defray its expenses. This state of things became 
apparent soon after the war commenced. To meet it, 
Congress, as early as 1861, (the war broke out in 
April of this year,) passed an act called " the Internal 
Revenue Law," by which twenty millions of dollars 
were to be raised annually by direct taxes upon houses 
and lands in each of the States and Territories ot the 
United States. 

2. By subsequent acts not only houses and lands 
were taxed, but almost every sort of property and busi- 
ness. Licenses were required for persons to carry on 
their profession, trade or business; incomes were 
taxed ; deeds, mortgages, notes, bonds, bank checks, 
and papers of almost every kind were invalid unless 
they had a revenue stamp upon them. Manufacturers 
had to pay such a per-centage on whatever they made. 
Scarcely any calling, trade, profession, or business or 
thing escaped it, directly or indirectly. 



192 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

So thorough a taxation the people never experienced 
before ; and it is to be hoped they never will again. 
This is one of the fruits of war. But what makes this 
doubly aggravating, is that this was a civil war. The 
people have this enormous load of taxation to carry to 
pay for killing each other. When will men learn war 
no more ? "When will men cease to be wicked and 
foolish ? 

o. To carry out the objects and provisions of this 
bill, it became necessary, in the first place, to divide 
every State and Territory into collection districts, en- 
tirely different, however, from the collection districts 
for the collection of the custom duties. These, as 
stated in another place, are located along the sea coast, 
and on the shores of gulfs, bays and sounds, or on the 
shores of such navigable lakes and rivers as are acces- 
sible to vessels from some foreign country ; whereas, 
the collection districts for the collection of internal rev- 
enue are necessarily located in every part of each State 
and Territory, as much inland as along the coast. As 
far as practicable, they are made, both in number and 
territory, identical with the Congressional districts. 

4. This law also made it necessary to create a host 
of new officers to execute its provisions. In the first 
place, an officer is appointed in the Treasury Depart- 
ment, and denominated the commissioner of internal 
revenue. He is, like all officers of his grade, appoin- 
ted by the President and Senate, and receives a salary 
of four thousand dollars per annum. He is charged 
with the duty (under the direction of the Secretary of 
the Treasury) of preparing all the instructions, forms, 



INTERNAL REVENUE. 193 

blanks, stamps and licenses to be used throughout the 
country, by all officers and agents employed in the col- 
lection of these taxes, and to see to the execution of 
the law relating thereto. 

5. Then comes an assessor and a collector, each with 
a deputy or deputies if need be, for every district. One 
to assess the value of all the property liable to taxa- 
tion, and the other to collect and receive the moneys so 
assessed. The collectors pay the moneys so received 
into the Treasury at Washington, or into such banks or 
other places as may be directed by the Secretary of the 
Treasury. 

The money to be thus raised is apportioned to each 
State and Territory in proportion to their representa- 
tion in Congress ; and a separate account of this tax is 
kept in the Treasury Department with each State and 
Territory. 

6. Much more might be said about other subordinate 
officers and agents employed by the government for 
the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the reve- 
nue laws ; and much more might be said about many 
of its details ; for it contains an unusual number ot 
provisions, in no less than three hundred and twenty- 
nine sections. But many of these have already been 
changed by subsequent acts ; and will probably be mod- 
ified by every Congress that may meet, until the whole 
law shall become unnecessary by the paying off of the 
whole national debt, or such a reduction of it as will 
enable the government to dispense with this extraor- 
dinary means of meeting its obligations. The very 
frequent modifications of ail the tax laws, renders it 
quite unnecessary to dwell with much minuteness on 
their provisions in detail. 

I hope this outline of the objects of the law, and the 
account given of the principal officers engaged in car- 
rying it into effect, will satisfy the general reader. (7). 



194 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER XLYIH. 
! Custom House and Custom House Officers. 

1. Custom houses are government offices, generally 
located in seaport cities and towns, for the purpose of 
collecting the duties charged upon imported goods. 
Nearly all goods brought from foreign countries into 
the United States, are brought by ships and other ves- 
sels by sea. Hence seaports are the popular localities 
for custom houses. Ports where they are established, 
are called ports of entry Here vessels from foreign 
ports are allowed to enter, and here the duties on for- 
eign goods are collected by custom house officers ap- 
pointed for that purpose. 

The principal of these officials is called collector of 
customs. He is appointed by the President and Sen- 
ate, and holds his office during the pleasure of the Pres- 
ident. This office is one of great responsibility ; for 
the collectors of customs receive and pay over into the 
United States Treasury by far the greater part of the 
revenues of the country ; that is, under ordinary cir- 
cumstances. But under the present extraordinary ex- 
igencies of the nation, which grew out of the late civil 
war, the government has been obliged to resort to di- 
rect taxation to sustain its expenses; and a larger 
amount has been raised by this means than by duties 
on imports. 

2. A collector of customs is therefore required to give 
heavy bonds for the faithful performance of his duties. 



CUSTOM HOUSES. 195 

He must give his bonds and take his official oath be- 
fore entering upon his duties, which are numerous and 
various. He has the power, also, with the approbation 
of the Secretary of the Treasury, to appoint the subor- 
dinate custom house officers, such as weighds, measur- 
ers, gangers, inspectors, watchmen, store keepers, &c. 
These he nominates, and the Secretary of the Treasury 
confirms or rejects them. 

HIS DUTIES. 

3. These duties require him to collect all duties 
which Congress has imposed on every kind of im- 
ported goods brought into the port or ports of which 
he is the collector. In order to do this he requires a 
deputy, and in large ports, several of them, whom he 
appoints, together with as many of the above named 
subordinates as the business done at the port requires. 

He must receive all reports, manifests, and docu- 
ments to be exhibited on the entry of any ship or ves- 
sel, whether domestic or foreign ; and all accounts of 
all the goods they have on board. He must estimate 
the duties to be paid thereon, receive the moneys paid 
therefor, and take all bonds for securing the payment 
thereof, and grant all permits for landing the goods. 
Once in three months he must transmit all moneys col- 
lected by him to the Treasury Department at Washing- 
ton, together with full and accurate accounts of all 
his transactions relating to the collection of duties at 
the port of which he is collector. 

4. He must examine the manifests not only of all 
ships and vessels with their cargoes which arrive with- 
in the port or district for which he is collector, but 



196 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

also those of all vessels which depart from thence to 
foreign countries. In this way the government ob- 
tains a knowledge of the amount and value of the 
whole exports and imports of the country. He 
must also give clearances to all vessels when they sail 
from his port for foreign ports or countries. No ves- 
sel can lawfully depart without such clearance. 

5. The manifests and clearances of ships and vessels 
are so often spoken of in the laws relating to com- 
merce, navigation and the revenue, that it may be in- 
teresting and useful to those not familiar with these 
matters, to give the form of an American manifest and 
clearance. > These are among the most important of a 
ship's papers. 

a ship's clearance. 

6. This document is couched in the -following terms: 
" District of Port of , ss. 

"These are to certify, to all whom it may concern, 
that A. B. master or commander of the ship (brig, 
barque, schooner), burthen tons or thereabouts, 

mounted with guns, navigated with men, 

built, and bound for , having on board , 

hath here entered and cleared his said vessel according 
to law. 

" Given under our hands and seals, at the custom 
house of , this day of , one 

thousand , and in the year of the Inde- 

pendence of the United States of America." 

This is signed by the collector and by the naval of- 
ficer of the port, when the commander is prepared to 
depart with his vessel to his destined port. 



CUSTOM HOUSES. 19? 

A ship's MANIFEST. 

This is a document of a very different character. 
Its principal object is to show of what her cargo con- 
sists, in quantity, kind and value. The form of a mani- 
fest is as follows: 

" Report and manifest of the cargo laden on board 
of the , whereof is master, which car- 

go was taken on board at the port or ports of , bur- 
then tons, built at , in the State of , and 
owned by , merchants at , and bound for ." 

This, together with a particular description of the 
marks and numbers of every bale, box, case, barrel, 
bundle or parcel on board of the vessel, is the mani- 
fest. It must be given to the collector of whatever 
port the vessel arrives at; and the master of her must 
swear that it is in all respects a true and accurate ac- 
count of all the cargo on board, to the best of his 
knowledge and belief. 

8. The collector of the port can then compute the 
duties to be paid upon each article, and when these 
are paid, or secured to be paid, he gives permits to land 
the cargo, and deliver the goods to their respective 
owners. Then come in the duties of weighers, gang- 
ers, measurers and inspectors of the customs, after per- 
mits are obtained to laud the goods. If they are such 
as require to be weighed, ganged or measured, these 
officers are sent to do it ; and the inspector must allow 
nothing to leave the ship until he has examined the 
marks and numbers, to see if they correspond with 
the permit and the manifest. If he suspects that 
there is an attempt to defraud the government by false 



198 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

names and marks, he is authorized to open the pack-, 
age, box, ease, cask, or whatever contains the goods, 
and to examine them. In this way smuggling is pre- 
vented, and the revenues arising from duties on im- 
ported goods secured. 

9. The compensation of collectors of customs va- 
ries from a few hundreds to many thousands of dol- 
lars per year. It depends upon the amount of busi- 
ness done at the port. At New York, Boston, Phila- 
delphia, New Orleans, Baltimore and San Francisco, 
the compensation is enormous, and should be reduced; 
for, in addition to their salaries and fees for services 
rendered, they receive a part of the forfeitures of 
goods smuggled or attempted to be smuggled into the 
country. 

SURVEYORS. 

10. Next to the collector in rank and authority, 
among custom house officers, is the surveyor of the 
port. He aids the collector in collecting the revenue; 
but his duties are of a different character. He is ap- 
pointed in the same manner as the collector, and for 
four years ; but may be removed by the President at 
his pleasure. His compensation, like that of the col- 
lector, depends on the amount of business at the port. 

HIS DUTIES. 

11. He must superintend and direct all inspectors, 
weighers, measurers and gaugers within his port, and 
must visit all vessels arriving therein, and report the 
same to the collector, with a description of each, of 
her nationality, cargo, &c. It is also his duty to ex- 
amine ail sroods entered for the benefit of drawback. 



CUSTOM HOUSES. 199 

THE NAVAL OFFICER. 

12. The naval officer is another of the principal 
custom house officers employed in the collection of 
the revenue. He is appointed in the same way as 
the collector and the surveyor, and is removable in 
the same manner. His compensation, also, is depend- 
ent on the same circumstances. His duties, to some 
extent, are the same as the collector's, and serve as a 
check or a sort of re-examination of his work, for the 
sake of accuracy and correctness. Hence it is his 
duty to receive copies of all manifests and entries, and 
to compute the duties on all goods subject to pay 
duties. He must keep a separate record thereof. He 
must countersign all permits, clearances, certificates, 
debentures, and other documents to be granted by the 
collector. He must also examine the collector's com- 
putation of duties, and his receipts, bonds, and expen- 
ditures, and certify their correctness, if found right. 

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS. 

13. In the year 1849 a new bureau was created by 
act of Congress in the Treasury Department, the head 
of which is styled "the commissioner of customs." 
This was done to increase the operative power of the 
department, and to relieve the first comptroller of 
the Treasury, whose duties had become too onerous 
to be efficiently performed by one man. By the act 
in question, all the duties and powers of the first 
comptroller of the Treasury, so far as they related 
to receipts from customs, and to the accounts of col- 
lectors and other officers of customs, were transferred 



200 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

to the new commissioner and bureau under his super, 
vision. Hence it became his duty to examine and 
adjust all accounts with custom house officers, to 
prepare forms of all papers to be used in the collection 
of the revenue from customs, and to direct the form 
and manner of keeping accounts of the same; to bring 
suits for the recovery of all debts due from revenue 
officers, and to report to Congress any default or 
neglect of duty on their part. This affords another 
example of the manner in which Congress is made ac- 
quainted with the conduct of government officials, 
and the state of things in every department and bureau. 
The commissioner of customs is appointed by the 
President and Senate, holds his office for the same 
time, and receives the same compensation as the first 
comptroller of the Treasury. 



THE PUBLIC LANDS. 201 



CHAPTER XLIX. 
Tlie Public Lands. 

1. The whole area of land lying within the bound- 
aries of the United States, is, according to published 
official statements, 3,002,013 square miles, or 1,921,288,- 
320 acres. Before the establishment of the present 
government, and during our colonial condition, much 
of this land had been sold and otherwise disposed of 
by the English government, and had become the pro- 
perty of individuals. Their possessions were not dis- 
turbed by the United States or by any of the State 
governments after the Revolution, which changed the 
whole country from the possession of the English to 
that of the American government; with the exception 
of that which belonged to those who were enemies to 
the United States during the Revolution. This was 
confiscated, and fell back into the possession of the Uni- 
ted States, or of the States in which it laid. 

2. But all which had not been disposed of became 
the property of the government, excepting such por- 
tions as belonged to the Indians — the original owners 
of the whole of America. Thus the government be- 
came a great land holder from its very outset. From 
this, and from what follows, it will be seen that it has 
been one of the greatest land dealers in the world ; for 
in addition to that here spoken of, it has purchased 
immense tracts, from which many of the present States 
and Territories were formed. 



202 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

The Louisiana purchase, as it has always been 
termed, was made of France in 1803. Out of it the 
States of Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri were 
formed. The sum of $15,000,000 was paid for it. 
Then in the year 1819, the United States by treaty 
purchased Florida of Spain. In 1836, Texas seceded 
from Mexico, and after a war with her gained her in- 
dependence, and in 1845 asked to be admitted as one 
of the-United States. This proposition was accepted, 
and she was admitted accordingly. All her public 
lands came into the possession of our government. 

3. Subsequently to this, and after the late war with 
Mexico, we purchased of her all the northern part of 
that country, embracing California, New Mexico and 
other extensive regions. This again added several 
hundred thousand square miles to our public domain. 

To all these must be added the immense tracts 
bought of the Indians. And to all of which must be 
added the great purchase made early in the year 1867, 
from Russia, of all her possessions in North America, 
for $7,000,000 in gold. This increases our public do- 
main, by between three and four hundred thousand 
square miles. 

4. But the government does not want all this land. 
It has no use for more than a few acres in certain loca- 
tions, for the sites of public buildings and of military 
works. 

The object, therefore, is to sell it to those who want it 
for farms and other purposes, that it may furnish homes 
for the people, be made productive, and thus add 
to the wealth of the nation. To accomplish this a 



THE PUBLIC LANDS. 203 

General Land Office was established by act of Congress, 
in 1812, at Washington. This office was at first at- 
tached to, or was a bureau of the Treasury Depart- 
ment, but in 1849 it was attached to the Department 
of the Interior. The head of this office is called 

COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. 

5. He is appointed by the President and Senate, must 
take the usual official oath before entering on his duties, 
and must give the usual official bond. He keeps the 
seal of his office, and fixes an impression of it upon 
all papers emanating from the Laud Office. He, with 
his clerks and assistants form the bureau, keep all the 
records and papers pertaining to the public lands, and 
perform all duties relating thereto. He receives re- 
ports from surveyors and from the district land offi- 
cers, gives them their instructions, and reports to the 
President and to Congress when required to do so. 

He issues all patents for lands granted by the United 
States, and sends and receives by mail all papers and 
documents relating to his official business, under the 
franking privilege. Every patent for land is issued in 
the name of the United States, is signed by the Presi- 
dent and by the commissioner of the Land Office, and 
is then recorded in books kept for that purpose. 

SURVEYORS GENERAL AND DEPUTY SURVEYORS. 

6. "When it is deemed necessary and expedient to 
bring the lands in any particular State or section of 
the country into market, a surveyor general is ap- 
pointed for that State or section, and also a sufficient 
number of deputy or assistant surveyors to perform 



204 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

the work ; which is done under the direction of the 
surveyor general, who is himself directed by law as to 
the manner of procedure. He is appointed for four 
years, taking the usual oath, and gives bonds for the 
faithful performance of his duties. 

MODE OF SURVEYING THE PUBLIC LANDS. 

7. The law directs how the lands shall be surveyed 
and mapped. Where it is practicable, they are laid 
out into square miles, each of which contains 640 
acres, and is called a section. 

These sections are then sub-divided into halves, 
quarters and eighths of sections ; that is, into lots of 
320, 160 and 80 acres. The boundary lines are all run 
north and south, and east and west. Thirty-six of 
these sections, which make a plat of six miles square, 
are put into a township. These townships are desig- 
nated by numbers, but when inhabited are named by 
the inhabitants as their fancy dictates. 

SALE OF THE PUBLIC LANDS. 

8. After the lands have been surveyed and properly 
mapped into townships and sections, they are brought 
into market and offered for sale in such quantities as 
are wanted by the purchaser ; from 40 acres, one six- 
teenth of a section, up to a whole section ; or as many 
sections as the buyer pleases to take. 

DISTRICT LAND OFFICES. 

9. District land offices for the sale of lands are es- 
tablished for this purpose at as many places in the 
State or Territory where the lands are situated, as is 
deemed necessary for the convenience of purchasers. 



THE PUBLIC LANDS 205 

Here are kept maps of all the lands lying in the dis- 
trict, and buyers may make their selections both of 
quantity and location as suits them. Here they will 
find 

A REGISTER OF THE LAND OFFICE AND A RECEIVER OF 
PUBLIC MONEYS FOR LANDS. 

10. The first named officer will register the applica- 
tion made for land in a book kept for that purpose, 
and the second will receive the money paid for it. 
These officers are appointed by the President and Sen- 
ate, and report their proceedings to the General Land 
Office at Washington. The receiver transmits all 
moneys received by him to the United States Treasury 
once in a month or once in three months, as directed. 

SCHOOL LANDS. 

Hi As before stated, the public lands are surveyed 
into sections of one mile square, and thirty-six of these 
sections make a township. For the purpose of en- 
couraging education, Congress has enacted that section 
number 16 in every township, shall not be sold, but 
reserved for the township, to be applied to the support 
of common schools in that town. By this measure the 
government appropriated one thirty-sixth part of its 
lands to aid the work of educating the children in the 
new States. And in addition to this it has made other 
munificent donations of land for the establishment and 
support of colleges and other institutions of learning. 

12. In addition to all this the United States have do- 
nated large tracts of land to the several States in 
which it lay, to aid them in building their State 



206 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

houses, &c. Large quantities of land have also been 
given to aid the construction of railroads. 

HOMESTEADS. 

13. The government has always sold its lands at a 
very low price, preferring to give the people cheap 
farms, rather than to raise more revenue from this 
source. 

But in 1862, Congress passed an act called " the 
Homestead Law," the object of which was to cheapen 
the public lands to a mere nominal price to heads of 
families, male or female, or to persons 21 years of age 
or over, or to persons who had served in the army or 
navy of the United States, whether 21 years old or 
not. By the provisions of this act such persons are 
allowed, for the trifling sum of ten dollars, to enter 
upon and claim 160 acres of land, provided the claim- 
ant swears that the land is applied for his or her own 
use, and for settlement and cultivation. But no patent 
(deed) is to be given until the applicant has actually 
settled upon and cultivated the land for the space of 
five years. Such applicant must also make affidavit 
that he has never borne arms against the United 
States. 

By this liberal policy, persons of very limited 
means may provide themselves with comfortable 
homes for life; and the unoccupied lands will be set- 
tled and occupied faster than if the old price of one 
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre had been de- 
manded. The revenue from the sale of lands will of 
course be less, but the wealth of the country will un- 
doubtedly be increased by the measure. 



THE PUBLIC LANDS. 207 

MINERAL LANDS. 

14. Exceedingly rich and valuable mines of gold, sil- 
ver, copper, lead and other minerals have been found 
upon the public lands. That the benefits of mining 
them might be extended to the many, instead of being 
monopolized by a few, a different rule for selling them 
has been made. After they have been surveyed, map- 
ped and described, they, like other lands, are offered 
for sale, but in quantities of not more than 40 acres. 
These are generally sold at auction, but no bid less than 
five dollars per acre will be received. If not sold at 
public sale, they are then subject to private sale at that 
price. 

REVENUE FROM LANDS. 

15. Any one can easily comprehend what almost 
boundless wealth there is in these public lands ; and 
although the government has not realized as much rev- 
enue from them as it might have done had it held them 
at higher prices, yet to the purchasers, the people, they 
are worth ten times more than the government re- 
ceived for them. Yet notwithstanding the low prices, 
they have yielded and will long continue to yield a 
considerable part of the revenues of the country. 

LEGISLATION RELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC LANDS. 

16. This vast estate, which the people of the United 
States own in their public lands, is constantly changing 
its character from that of public to that of private 
property; for the government is disposing of more or 
less of it every year to individuals. By this process 
the public dominion is diminishing, but private prop- 



208 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

erty is as constantly increasing. The land only changes 
owners, and is converted from an unproductive to 
a productive state, and this augments the wealth of the 
nation. 

17. It is easy to understand that it has required a great 
amount of care, labor and legislation to manage and 
take care of so great an estate. Surveys, maps and 
records of it, must be made and preserved at Washing- 
ton ; and Congress has found it necessary at almost, if 
not at every session, to pass acts in relation to it. All 
the laws enacted relative to the public lands would, 
if collected into one book, make a ponderous volume. 



BOUNTY LAND AND LAND WARKANTS. 209 



CHAPTER L. 
Bounty Land and Land Warrants. 

1. Bounty lands are lands given by the government 
to the officers and men who have served their country, 
either in the army or navy. Everybody knows that 
the pay of soldiers in the army, and seamen in the na- 
vy, is small. For this reason our government donated 
a certain quantity of land to each officer and private, 
as a further compensation for their services. The 
quantity given was made to depend on the length of time 
spent in the service. Those who engaged to serve a 
year, and actually served nine months, receive 160 
acres. Those who engaged to serve six months, and 
actually served four months, received 80 acres; and 
those who served one month, received 40 acres. No 
distinction was made between officers and privates, 
because officers received higher wages than privates. 

2. The United States own such vast quantities of 
land that they could in this way compensate the sol- 
diers better, with a less burden of taxation upon the 
people, than other nations. Immense quantities of the 
public lands have been disposed of in this way, and 
many a soldier has thus been furnished with a home 
and with a competence for life. In case of his death 
in battle, or before he received his land, it was given 
to his widow or children if he had any. 

Every one entitled to land, for military or naval ser- 
vices, receives from the Department of the Interior a 
certificate, or land warrant, as it is more specifically 



210 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

termed, and this entitles him to go anywhere upon the 
public lands which have been surveyed and brought in- 
to market, and not otherwise disposed of, and select 
the quantity named in his warrant, which is often de- 
nominated a military land warrant. Upon the return 
of this certificate or warrant to the land office, with 
proof of the location of the land, the government gives 
the owner a patent or government deed of it, which is 
the best title to land that a man can have. 

3. Land warrants are often bought and sold like 
stocks, for whoever lawfully holds the warrant, wheth- 
er for service or by purchase, is entitled to the land. 

So careful has the government been to secure the 
benefits of this provision to those who have served 
their country in time of war, that it does not allow 
land granted for military services to be sold for the 
debts of the warrantee before he has received his pat- 
ent. 



DUTIES AND TARIFFS. 211 



CHAPTER LI. 
Duties and Tariffs. 

1. Few if any questions or subjects ever came before 
the National Legislature, which have required more 
legislation, caused more debate, or brought out a 
greater diversity of opinion, than those relating to du- 
ties and tariffs. 

Duties are the taxes which the government imposes 
upon goods imported from foreign countries into our 
own. This is not peculiar to our government, for all 
others do the same thing. 

In ours two different objects have been sought by 
the imposition of duties, both of which are clearly 
stated in the preamble to the first act ever passed by 
Congress (July 4th, 1789), on this subject. They are 
in these words: " Whereas it is necessary for the sup- 
port of the government, for the discharge of the debts of 
the United States, and the encouragement and protection 
of manufactures, that duties be laid on goods, wares and 
merchandise imported." 

First, the support of government. 

Second, protection to our own manufactures. 

2. A government is an expensive institution, and 
requires a great deal of money to carry it on. This 
must be had from some source. To raise it by the im- 
position of taxes or duties on merchandise imported 
from foreign countries, has been considered the cheap- 
est mode of collecting it, and the least burdensome up- 
on the people. Hence by far the greatest part of the 



212 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

revenue of the United States has been raised in this 
way. Then comes the second object; which is to raise 
the price of imported articles by just as much as the 
duty on them amounts to, thus enabling our own man- 
ufactures to compete with those of foreign countries. 
It has been thought to be a good policy to make our 
own goods as far as we can, and thus render our- 
selves more independent of foreign countries. But on 
this question there have been two opinions, which have 
been so strong as to form the principal difference be- 
tween different political parties ; one contending that 
the tariff (rate of duties) should be so low that only 
money enough should be raised from duties to support 
the government ; or, in other words, that the duties on 
imports should be so graduated as to bring the great- 
est amount into the Treasury of the United States, 
without regard to the question of protection to home 
manufactures ; or, that the incidental protection a low 
tariff would give, was sufficient. 

3. On the other side it is contended that our best 
policy is, and that our economical interests would be 
best promoted by, imposing so high a duty on impor- 
ted goods as to prevent to some extent their importa- 
tion, and thus to build up American manufactures. 
Much has been said and much has been written on 
both sides of this question, both in and out of Congress, 
and the policy of the government is unsettled to this 
day. Hence the great amount of legislation on this 
Subject. Sometimes the high tariff party, having a 
majority in Congress, would pass an act fixing a 
high rate of duties ; and when the low tariff party 



DUTIES AND TARIFFS. 213 

gained the ascendency, they would change the tariff, 
and Rx the duties at a lower rate. For the last thirty 
years the government has been vibrating between these 
two systems, very much to the detriment of our pros- 
perity, and the question still remains unsettled, and will 
probably be submitted to as many changes in the future 
as it has been in the past. 

4. The collection of duties on imports is a very large 
branch of the business of the government, requiring a 
great many custom houses and custom house officers. 
There are probably two hundred of the former in all 
the States ; yet most of the revenue is collected at a 
few of the largest seaport cities, such as New York, 
Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, New Orleans and San 
Francisco. Every seaport where vessels from foreign 
countries are allowed to come in and discharge their 
cargoes, and pay the duties thereon, is called a port of 
entry. After the vessel has been reported to the col- 
lector of the port, and her duties paid or secured to be 
paid, and the owner of the goods desire them deliv- 
ered at some other place where there is no custom 
house, that privilege is granted, and the place where 
the goods are finally discharged is called a port 
of delivery. 

5. Among the powers which the Constitution con- 
fers upon Congress, is that of laying duties on goods 
imported. Congress alone has this power. No State 
can exercise it. It also declares that all duties shall 
be equal in all the States. 

Not only has the tariff (which means the rate of du- 
ties charged) been a source of much debate and legis- 



214 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

lation, but also the mode of imposing these taxes. Two 
modes have been advocated. Sometimes one and some- 
times another has been adopted and practiced. The sys- 
tem of ad valorem duties is one, and that of specific du- 
ties is the other. Ad valorem duties are laid upon the 
cost of the article in the country whence it was brought. 
Hence when goods were low, the duties would be cor- 
respondingly low, and vice versa when high. But this 
plan has been subject to great objections, for impor- 
ters have been often known to have false invoices made 
out, wherein their goods were marked much below their 
real cost, and by this means the government is de- 
frauded and honest dealers injured. To avoid this, 
the other mode has been resorted to, viz. : 

" Specific duties," by which the tax is laid upon the 
article itself — that is, the duty is so much per pound, 
yard, gallon, &c, without regard to what was the price 
originally paid for it. 

6. There are a great number of imported articles, 
upon which there is no duty. These are called free 
goods. But the laws are so often changed that what are 
free goods now may be taxed at the next session of 
Congress ; and goods paying duties this year may be 
put on the free list next. 

DRAWBACKS. 

7. When the duties on foreign goods have been paid, 
and they are afterwards exported, the duties which 
have been paid are refunded to the owner. The money 
thus paid back is called a drawback. All imported 
goods are entitled to drawback whenever they are ta- 
ken out of the United States. 



DUTIES AND TARIFFS. 215 

8. In this connection, we see no impropriety in no- 
ticing another thing, though of an exactly opposite char- 
acter to duties ; and that is, 

BOUNTIES ON EXPORTED GOODS. 

These take money out of, instead of putting it in 
the treasury, yet the government in a few cases has al- 
lowed bounties upon exported articles. Fish taken by 
American vessels, refined sugar and distilled spirits 
made from imported sugar and molasses, are exam- 
ples. This was done to encourage domestic industry 
and enterprise. 



216 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LII. 
Tonnage, 

In the last chapter we treated of duties and tariffs, 
but only as they related to imported goods. In this 
we will speak of another kind of duties differing very 
materially from the first. The first kind is imposed 
only upon foreign productions, but the latter upon 
home-made as well as foreign ; and this is the duty 
which the government lays upon the tonnage of ships 
and other vessels. 

Tonnage is the capacity of a ship or any other ves- 
sel for carrying weight, which is always reckoned by 
the ton ; and is ascertained by measuring the length, 
breadth and depth of the vessel. This has been 
deemed a proper subject of taxation, for the purpose of 
adding to the revenue of the country. 

At a very early period (1790) in our history these 
duties were imposed, both on our own and on foreign 
vessels, though heavier duties are laid on foreign than 
upon American vessels. In the first act passed on this 
subject, in 1790, this duty on our own was only six 
cents per ton, while that on foreign bottoms was fifty 
cents. 

Congress alone has the power to impose these du- 
ties. No State can do it. In 1862, such were the 
wants of the treasury, that the tonnage duties both on 
American and foreign vessels were increased ten cents 
per ton. This tax is collected only once in a year, by 
the collector of the port where the vessel happens to be. 



REVENUE CUTTERS. 217 

CHAPTER LHI. 
Revenue Cutters. 

1. Revenue cutters are small sized vessels belong- 
ing to the government, and are used for the purpose of 
aiding revenue officers in the collection of duties on 
imported goods ; or, in other words, to prevent smug- 
gling. These vessels are built and used exclusively for 
this purpose, and are not reckoned as any part of the 
navy, though officered and manned much in the same 
manner. The commissioned officers are appointed by 
the President and Senate. 

The duties assigned to revenue cutters are, to sail 
along the coast and look after ships and other vessels 
going into any of the ports of the United States ; to 
board them and examine their papers, that is, if going 
into an American port, and within four leagues of the 
coast; to examine the manifest of the cargo and every 
part of the vessel ; to put proper fastenings upon the 
hatches and other communications with the hold ; and 
to place a man or men on board who must remain 
with her until her arrival into port, when she is deliv- 
ered over to the charge of the proper custom house 
officer. 

2. The officers of revenue cutters are deemed offi- 
cers of the customs, and hence are subject to theorders of 
the Secretary of the Treasury and the collectors and 
other revenue officers at the ports where employed. 
But if so directed by the President, in an emergency 
they may cooperate with the navy ; and in such cases 
if the officers or men are wounded in the discharge of 
their duties, their names may be placed on the navy 



218 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

pension list, and they will be entitled to the same rate 
of pension as other officers and seamen of the United 
States navy. 

3. Revenue cutters are distinguished from other ves- 
sels by the pendant and ensign they carry. These 
have such marks upon them as the President shall di- 
rect ; and in case any ship or other vessel liable to 
seizure shall not bring-to upon request of the com- 
manding officer of the cutter, he is authorized to fire 
into such vessel, after exhibiting his pendant and en- 
sign, in order to compel her to obey his orders and al- 
low herself to be boarded and examined. This he 
may do without incurring responsibility for life or pro- 
perty that may be destroyed by the act. 

4. One of the objects designed to be accomplished 
by the use of revenue cutters, and the duties assigned 
to them, is to prevent vessels from running goods 
ashore after having neared the coast, and thus to es- 
cape payment of the duties. This could be done in 
the night or in foggy weather without detection but 
for the vigilance of these vessels, which are well 
armed and well manned. Formerly they were all sail- 
ing vessels, but steamers are now used also. 

5. The commander of a revenue cutter must report 
weekly to the collector of the port where he is sta- 
tioned, the transactions of the cutter, with the names 
and description of all the vessels he has boarded ; spe- 
cifying whether they are American or foreign vessels, 
whether loaded or in ballast, together with all such in- 
formation as it may be necessary for the revenue offi- 
cers of the port to possess. 



THE MINT. 219 



CHAPTER LIV. 
The Mint. 

1. The United States mint, located at Philadelphia, 
is one of the most important establishments of the 
government. An act of Congress, passed in 1792, 
was the first step towards its creation. Its design was, 
and its principal business has been, to coin the precious 
metals into money. It has been for more than eighteen 
hundred years the usage of civilized governments to 
coin their own money. Ours, at a very early period 
of its existence, began to do the same thing, and will 
probably continue to do it as long as it shall exist. 
Before the art of coining was known, the precious me- 
tals were used as a standard of value, but they passed 
from one to another by weight. The plan of cutting 
them into small pieces, and then stamping their value 
upon them, by which their worth could be known as 
soon as seen, was an improvement upon the former 
mode. This process is denominated coining. It has 
of late been brought so near perfection that our pieces 
of money are fine specimens of art. 

2. This establishment, like all others belonging to 
the government, is under the direction of officers 
chosen for that purpose. 

They are a director, a treasurer, an assay er, a melter 
and refiner, a chief coiner, and an engraver. 

All of them are appointed by the President and Sen- 
ate. The director appoints assistants and clerks. 



220 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

All must give bonds for the faithful performance of 
their respective duties, upon which they enter under 
oath. The duties of these different officers may almost 
be known by the names they bear. The director is 
the head of the institution, and the others act under 
his general direction, each having his appropriate du- 
ties to perform. In the month of January of each year 
the director must make a report to the President of the 
operations of the mint audits branches for the preced- 
ing year. 

3. Any person may take gold or silver bullion or 
ores to the mint and receive it back in coin, for a very 
trilling expense. Before it is coined, after its value 
has been determined by the assay er, the director will 
give a certificate for it, which is of the same value as 
the bullion deposited. 

4. We have stated that the principal business at the 
mint is the conversion of the precious metals into coin 
or money. But this is not its exclusive business. 
Another part is to melt and assay these metals, and to 
run them into ingots or bars either of pure or standard 
gold and silver, according to the wish of its owner. In 
our article on the assay office at the city of New York, 
we have explained this process more fully than we 
need to do here. 

Until 1835 the mint at Philadelphia was the only 
establishment in the United States for coining money. 
But in that year a law was passed establishing branch 
mints at New Orleans, in Louisiana; at Charlotte, in 
North Carolina; and at Dahlonega, in Georgia. In 
1852, another branch was established in California; in 



THE MINT. 221 

1862, another at Denver, in Colorado Territory; and 
in 1863, another at Carson City, in Nevada Territory, 
since made a State; in 1864, another at San Francisco, 
in California, and another at Dales City, in Oregon. 
Except the one in California, but little has ever been 
done at these branches. Political reasons in some 
cases had more to do with their establishment than 
any necessity for them. We need not take time to 
name these officials or to explain their operations. 
They are all similar to the principal one at Philadel- 
phia ; for the laws relating to that are made to apply 
to these branches. 

6. The Constitution gives Congress the exclusive 
right to coin money, and prohibits all the States from 
doing it. This Congress does by the laws it passes in 
relation to the subject, and the various officers and 
workmen employed to execute the work are only the 
agents of Congress. 

The various coins which Congress has from time to 
time ordered to be made are of the following namea 
and value : 

Gold. Value. Silver. Value. Copper. 
Eagle, $10 00 Dollar, $1 00 One cent, 
Half-Eagle, 5 00 Half-Dollar, 50 Two cents, 
Quar. Eag., 2 50 Quar. Dol., 25 Three cents, and 
Doub. Eag., 20 00 Dime, 10 formerly 1-2 c. 
Three Dols., 3 00 Half Dime, 5 But these are now- 
One Dollar, 1 00 Three ct. piece, 3 discontinued. 

7. Our coins are not made of pure gold and pure sil- 
ver, but of standard gold and silver; that is, gold or 
silver alloyed or mixed with some baser or less valu- 
able metal. By the law of 1837, standard gold and 
silver were declared to be nine hundred parts of pure 



222 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

metal, and one hundred parts alloy — equal to one-tenth 
alloy. Gold coins are alloyed with silver and copper, 
equal parts of each. Silver coins are alloyed with 
copper alone. Gold is declared £o be worth fifteen 
times as much as silver by weight. 

In addition to our own coins, Congress has from 
time to time passed laws declaring the value of foreign 
coins, and making them a legal tender. But these 
laws were all repealed by the act of 1857, and it was 
made the duty of the director of the mint to have them 
assayed, and to determine their weight, fineness and 
value ; for they are still used by banks ?,^d merchants, 
and pass at the value determined by the mint. 

The mint, up to 1861, had coined in gold, silver, and 
copper coin, 800,662,475 pieces, worth $799,923,362. 



ASSAY OFFICE. "223 



CHAPTER LV. 
Assay Office. 

1. In 1853 the Secretary of the Treasury was au- 
thorized to establish an office in the city of New York 
for the receipt, melting, refining and assaying of gold 
and silver bullion and foreign coin, and for casting the 
same into bars, ingots or disks. The assistant trea- 
surer of the United States in New York, is treasurer 
of said assay office, and the Secretary of the Trea- 
sury appoints such other clerks, assistants and work- 
men as shall be necessary for the management of its 
business. 

2. Persons having gold or silver bullion, ores or for- 
eign coin, may deposit them in this office, and here it 
will be refined and assayed (at no more cost than the 
actual expenses of doing the work), and its value as- 
certained, and the owner will be paid therefor in coins 
of the same value and metal as that deposited. It is 
not coined in this office, but cast into bars, ingots or 
disks — either of pure metal or of standard fineness, as 
the owner may prefer — the true weight and value of 
which are stamped thereon ; and the owner may either 
take them in payment for his bullion or foreign coin, 
or it will be coined for him at the United States mint, 
if he wishes. The bars spoken of are often kept in 
that form, and are used as coin among banks, brokers 
and merchants, who receive and pay large amounts of 



224 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

the precious metals. With them it passes as coin, for, 
as stated, its exact weight and value are stamped upon it. 
3. This establishment was located at New York 
more for the convenience of the thousands who do 
business there, than for the necessity of such an insti- 
tution ; for at the mint at Philadelphia there is a de- 
partment for doing the same work as is done here. 
But at New York, the great emporium of America, 
there is a larger amount of foreign coin than in any 
other place, and it is often advantageous to its owners 
to have it converted into American coin, that it may 
be used with greater facility. Although many foreign 
coins do circulate in this country, but few know their 
value. Consequently they do not pass so readily; and 
for this reason they are melted and run into bars of 
known value, or re-coined into American money, 



NATIONAL BANKS. 225 

CHAPTER LVI. 
National Banks. 

1. The banking system established by an act oi 
Congress in 1863, has brought a great number of banks 
into existence, and upon a plan so different from any 
heretofore in use, that it seems germane to our subject 
to notice it. 

If the "national banks," for so they are called, are 
not institutions of the government, they are institu- 
tions which exist by the authority of the government. 

It legalizes their existence, and to some extent con- 
trols their actions. By the act referred to, any num- 
ber of persons not less than five may associate them- 
selves together for the purpose of banking, by compli- 
ance with the following conditions : 

2. First : They must, under their hands and seals, 
make a certificate which shall specify, 

1. The name assumed by such association. 

2. The place where its business is to be conducted. 

3. The amount of its capital stock, (which cannot 
be less than $50,000), and the number of its shares. 

4. The names of its shareholders, and the number 
of shares held by each. 

5. The time when such association shall commence 
business. 

6. A declaration that said certificate is made to ena- 
ble such persons to avail themselves of the advantages 
of this act. . 

8 



226 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

3. This certificate must be properly acknowledged 
before some competent person, and must be sent to the 
comptroller of the currency in the Treasury Depart- 
ment, to be recorded and kept by him. When this, 
and all other acts which the law requires, has been 
done by the association, the comptroller of the cur- 
rency gives them a certificate under his hand and offi- 
cial seal, to that effect, and that they are authorized to 
commence business. This constitutes the association 
a corporation. They have the right to make and use a 
common seal, and have all the rights, and are liable to 
all the responsibilities of ordinary legalized corpora- 
tions ; and may exist not to exceed twenty years 
from the passage of this act. Every shareholder is 
made personally liable for the debts of the association 
or bank, to the amount of the par value of his stock. 

4. In order to secure the holders of bills issued by 
these banks, they must deposit with the Treasurer of 
the United States, United States bonds bearing inter- 
est to an amount not less than one-third of the capital 
stock paid in. These bonds are safely kept by the 
said Treasurer. The comptroller of the currency then 
issues to the bank an amouut of bank notes equal to 
the amount of bonds thus deposited, less ten per cent. 
In case the bank should fail to redeem its circulating 
bills, its bonds are sold, and with the proceeds the 
comptroller of the currency redeems them, or orders 
them to be paid at the United States Treasury. The 
bonds held by the Treasurer as security for the re- 
demption of the bills issued by the association, must 
be transferred to him in trust ; thus giving him entire 



NATIONAL BANKS. 227 

control of them in case it becomes necessary to sell 
them in order to redeem the bills of any association 
which may have failed to pay them on demand. 

5. This act of 1863 has brought a great number of 
new banks into existence. It allowed banks already 
existing under State laws, to become banking associa- 
tions under this act. Most of the existing State banks 
have done so, organizing themselves under this law. 
Hence with few exceptions, (which will probably soon 
disappear), we have a uniform system of banking all 
over the United States. The bills of these banks pass 
in any part of the country. The holders of them are 
more secure, because there is ample security for their 
redemption (in case the bank fails to pay) deposited in 
the United States Treasury, where they will be paid on 
presentation. 

6. The bill-holder is also better protected against 
counterfeits than he was under the old system; for all 
the bills issued by these associations are engraved by 
the government, and the plates and dies on which they 
are printed are kept by the comptroller of the currency 
in the Treasury Department. The engraving is done 
in the best possible manner, and it is exceedingly dif- 
ficult to counterfeit them. Besides this, they all have 
the imprint of the seal of the Treasury on their face, 
and are numbered and countersigned by the treasurer 
and register. With all these guards and precautions, 
we have the best paper currency ever used since the 
establishment of the government. 

7. This act necessarity threw upon the Treasury De- 
partment a great increase of labor, and in order to pro- 



228 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

vide for it, a separate bureau was created, which is de- 
nominated the bureau of currency; the chief officer of 
which is called the comptroller of currency. He acts 
under the general direction of the Secretary of the 
Treasury. This bureau is charged with the execution 
of this and all other laws that may bepasssed by Con- 
gress respecting the national currency. The comptrol- 
ler of the currency is appointed by the President and Sen- 
ate, has a deputy, receives a salary of $5,000 per year, 
holds his office five years, has an official seal, gives 
bonds to the amount of $100,000, and takes and sub- 
scribes the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution 
and the laws. His dtities are numerous and very re- 
sponsible, he having hundreds of millions under his 
care. 

The term national banks, given to these institu- 
tions, and national currency to the bills they issue, 
were given from the fact that they were organized by 
an act of Congress, and that the security for the re- 
demption of their bills consists exclusively of national 
bonds ; no other securities will be taken. 



MILITAKY ACADEMY. 229 



CHAPTER LVIL 
Military Academy. 

1. The Military Academy, located on the west bank 
of the Hudson river, at West Point, in the State of 
~Nqw York, and about 50 miles from the city of £Tew 
York, is one of the government institutions. It had 
its origin in an act of Congress passed as early as 1802. 
Under this act this far-famed military school was com- 
menced, but on a scale, in every respect, very much 
inferior to what it has since become. 

2. Its name explains its character and objects. It 
was established and has been continued at a great ex- 
pense, for the purpose of teaching and training up 
young men in the science and art of war, that in any 
emergency the country might have a sufficient number 
of men, educated and skilled in all such arts and sci- 
ences as appertain to war. Hence, mathematics, engi- 
neering, gunnery, drawing, natural and experimental 
philosophy and military tactics, are among the prin- 
cipal branches taught. In all of these, able professors 
give instruction to the cadets, as the pupils are called. 
Chemistry, geology, and the French language are also 
taught at this institution. The instruction is thorough, 
the discipline excellent, and some of the graduates of 
this celebrated school rank high among the scientific 
men of the country. 

3. Congress controls and regulates this establish- 
ment, as it docs all other departments, institutions, and 



230 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

works belonging to the government. It enacts all 
laws relating to its officers, professors, and cadets, and 
to the management of the institution. 

4. By a law passed in 1843, the number of cadets to 
be admitted was made to correspond with the number 
of Senators and Representatives from each State. Ev- 
ery State and Territory is entitled to send as many ca- 
dets as it has Senators and Representatives in Con- 
gress. This gives each Territory, however, but one; 
as a Territory has no Senators, and but-one Represen- 
tative. By the same law the District of Columbia is 
allowed one. To give every part of the country an 
equal chance, it was enacted that each Congressional 
district in each State and Territory should be allowed 
to send one cadet, to be educated at West Point. These 
are generally nominated for appointment by the Con- 
gressmen from their respective districts, and the Presi- 
dent appoints. The cadet must be an actual resident 
of the district for which he is appointed. 

5. In addition to these, it is provided by the same 
act, that ten more cadets may be appointed at large ; 
i, e. 9 without regard to Congressional districts. These 
provisions would make the number of cadets at the 
present time (1869), to be three hundred and fifteen. 
In order to be admitted as a cadet, the candidate must 
be well versed in reading, writing and arithemetic ; 
must not be under 14 nor over 21 years of age ; and 
must sign articles, agreeing to serve the United States 
eight years. After he has finished his studies and has 
graduated, he is considered as a candidate for a com- 
mission in the army, according to the duties he may be 
competent to perform. 



MILITARY ACADEMY. 231 

6. The Military Academy may be considered a 
branch of the War Department. Men who have 
been educated there have rendered the country signal 
service in times of war, have made able commanders, and 
have proved themselves thoroughly skilled in military 
science. Not only in the military service has it been 
a benefit to the country, but in the civil walks of life. 
Many of its graduates have distinguished themselves 
as engineers, astronomers, and in other scientific pro- 
fessions and useful employments. 

7. There is an annual examination of the cadets, and 
of the general affairs of the institution, by a committee 
appointed by the President, for that purpose. 

It is composed of Congressmen and military officers. 
It is the duty of these examiners to attend the examin- 
ation, inspect its discipline, and course of instruction, 
look after its fiscal affiairs, and all other matters relat- 
ing to the Academy, and report the same to the Sec- 
retary of War, for the use of Congress. 



232 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LVm. 
Naval Academy. 

1. ¥e will place our notice of this institution next 
to that of the Military Academy, as there is a strong 
analogy between the two. We remarked on that, that 
it might be considered a branch of the War Depart- 
ment. So we say of this, it may be considered a branch 
of the Navy Department. Both are designed to edu- 
cate and train men for future public service, in differ- 
ent departments. 

2. This school is now established at Annapolis, in 
the State of Maryland, near Washington. Like the 
Military Academy, it has its superintendent and profes- 
sors. The pupils are called midshipmen. They are 
taught navigation and such other branches of science 
as are necessary to make them good seamen and naval 
officers. They are selected upon nearly the same plan 
as cadets. Each Congressional District in every State 
and Territory, is entitled to send two students to be 
educated at the Academy. The District of Columbia 
is also entitled to send two. Besides which, the Presi- 
dent is allowed to appoint ten additional ones at large, 
and three more from the boys enlisted in the navy. 

3. After their graduating examination, if they pass, 
they are commissioned as ensigns in the navy, and rank 
according to merit. Before admission, they are exam- 
ined according to the regulations made by the Secretary 
of the Navy, and must be between the ages of fourteen 



NAVAL ACADEMY. 233 

and seventeen years, sound, robust, and of good con^ 
stitution. 

4. The course of study in this, as well as in the 
Military Academy, is adapted to the profession which 
the students are expected to follow, — -the one in the 
navy, the other in the army. More are educated at 
these great national schools than the government needs 
in time of peace. Hence it is that many of the gradu- 
ates are engaged in civil employment. Thus these in- 
stitutions have been of great service to the country, 
outside of the army and navy, for they have added to 
the number of well educated and scientific men, who 
may be useful in any of the walks of life. Their gradu- 
ates elevate the standard of intelligence in the com- 
munity, especially when they engage in the work of 
instruction. 

Both of these institutions are supported at the ex- 
pense of the government. The tuition and board of 
cadets in one, and of the midshipmen in the other, 
costs them nothing. 



234 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LIX. 
Armories and Arsenals. 

As early as 1794, Congress enacted that three or 
four arsenals and magazines, with an armory attached 
to each, should be established for the safe keeping of 
military stores. An arsenal is a place where arms and 
military stores are kept. An armory is a place where 
arms are made or repaired. The armories where arms 
are manufactured are at Springfield, in Massachusetts, 
and at Harpers' Ferry, in Virginia. But there are 
many others where they are repaired. 

In 1808, the President was authorized to purchase 
sites and to erect as many more arsenals and manufac- 
tories of arms as he might deem expedient. Each of 
these establishments was formerly uuder the direction 
of a superintendent; but they are now placed under 
the direction of the Ordnance Department. The office 
of superintendent of the armories at Springfield and 
Harpers' Eerry, was also abolished in 1842; audits du- 
ties have since been performed by such officers of the 
ordnance corps as were designated by the President. 
In each armory there is employed a master armorer, 
who superintends the workmen. "We have not the 
means of knowing what number of these establishments 
have been authorized in the United States, but in ad- 
dition to those already named there are arsenals 
and armories at Pittsburgh and Bridesburgh, in Penn- 
sylvania; at Washington city; at "Water vliet, in ]N"ew 
York; Watertown, Mass.; at Columbus, Ohio; at In- 
dianapolis, in Indiana; and at Rock Island, in Illinois. 
They are parts of the military establishment of the 
country, and belong to the War Department. 



ARMY AND NAVY. 235 



CHAPTER LX. 
The Army and Navy. 

1, A detailed and minute description of the various 
departments, officials, works and modes of operation 
in these two great government establishments, would 
require a larger volume than the present to contain it. 
We must, therefore, in a work of this kind, be content 
to speak of them in the most general terms. Indeed 
it would be quite uninteresting to the general reader 
to peruse a detailed account of the division of the 
army into corps, brigades, regiments and companies, 
with all the grades of officers commanding them ; or 
of all the appendages to an army, such as the commis- 
sary department, the quartermaster's department, and 
many other important attachments to a regular army. 
And what we say of the army would hold true of the 
navy. 

2. We will then only, say that the army and navy 
are the two great arms of our government, as they are 
of all others. They are the means of defense against 
attacks or invasions from other powers ; as well as of 
offense, when circumstances require us to invade for- 
eign countries, or to enforce our rights upon the high 
seas, though this is especially the duty of the navy, 
which has rights all over the seas equal with those of 
any other nation. But to resist foreign aggression, or 
to defend our rights on the seas, is by no means the 
only reason for maintaining an army and a navy. Ex- 
perience has shown that such is the depravity, the law- 



236 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

lessness, and the wickedness of a part of mankind 
that nothing but compulsion will keep them in order ; 
nothing but force will keep them from the violation of 
the best of laws. This reckless and vicious class of 
persons are so numerous that laws could never be exe- 
cuted, nor order preserved, if no military or naval 
power stood behind the civil power to enforce the laws 
when they are resisted by any considerable body of 
persons. But for the known fact that the military 
power stands ready at the call of the executive au- 
thority of the government, resistance to every law 
which was distasteful to the most depraved and vicious, 
would be made. Thus order at home almost as much 
requires the military power, as our defense against the 
wrongs or invasions of foreigners. 

3. The navy cannot act in all emergencies as the 
army can, because it is necessarily restricted in its ac- 
tions. It can only act on the seas or upon places ac- 
cessible to it by water ; whereas the army can operate 
any where upon land. It never has been the policy or 
the practice of the United States to keep a large stand- 
ing army, for it has been thought inconsistent with a 
Republican government ; first, because it seemed to 
imply a want of confidence in the intelligence and pa- 
triotism of the people, the majority of whom are 
deemed law-abiding, patriotic, and willing without 
compulsion to support the authority of the civil power 
of the government. And another reason is that a 
large army is a very expensive thing. Indeed the 
army and the navy are by far the two most expensive 
departments of the government. Economy, therefore, 



AKMY AND NAVY. 237 

is another reason why our standing army has always 
been small in times of peace. Id this connection we 
will notice another fact which renders it unnecessary 
for our government to maintain a large army at any 
other time than when we are at war, and that is our 
militia system, which was established immediately 
after the organization of the government. By a law 
of Congress, it was enacted that every sound and 
healthy man, with a few exceptions in special cases, 
between the ages of 18 and 45, should be enrolled and 
equipped for military duty. Then, by the laws of the 
States, they are required on certain days in each year 
to meet in companies, regiments or brigades, for drill 
and practice in military exercises. 

4. By these means military organizations are kept 
up in every part of the country, together with some 
knowledge of the military art. These, in time of war 
or domestic insurrection, may be called out with but a 
few days' notice ; and a large army of citizen soldiers 
can be raised in a very short time. With such facili- 
ties for raising men, it is unnecessary to keep a stand- 
ing army of much magnitude. A few thousand men 
to guard our fortifications and military posts are suffi- 
cient. 

The late civil war between the South and the North 
gave ample evidence of this; for when it became ne- 
cessary to raise a million of men, it was done in a short 
time, and after a little practice they became good sol- 
diers. Until the recent civil war, the navy of the 
United States was, in comparison with that of several 
other nations, small and weak. But during the re- 



238 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

bellion the necessity of greater force in this arm of our 
government, very soon brought into existence the most 
powerful navy in the world; and to-day our navy 
ranks as one of the best, if not the very best in the 
world ; notwithstanding that it has been greatly dimin- 
ished since peace was restored. 

5. The necessities of the case called Yor many more 
vessels than the government had, and a large number 
were purchased which had been built and used for 
commercial purposes. Besides these a great number 
were built, and many English vessels which had run 
the blockade, or attempted to do so, were taken as 
prizes, and immediately placed in our navy. Hence 
perhaps no navy upon earth ever grew from small- 
ness to greatness, and from weakness to power so rap- 
idly as did the American navy from 1861 to 1865, or 
during the continuance of the rebellion. 

~Not only was the number of ships, men and guns 
greatly increased, but the power and efficiency of our 
guns were augmented beyond anything known before; 
as was also the power of our ships of war for offense or 
defense. When we see cannon which will send balls 
five miles, and do terrible execution, and iron-clad 
ships so constructed as to be as impervious to cannon 
balls as a rock is to small shot, we may place our navy 
on an equality, if not in advance of any other which 
can be found on earth. In this respect we stand on a 
proud eminence in contrast with any other nation. 

6. "We have said already that since the restoration 
of peace among ourselves, the force of the navy had 
been greatly reduced and brought down to a peace 



ARMY AND NAVY. 239 

standard. Yet it is still of sufficient power to answer 
any emergency that is likely to occur. From a late 
report of the Secretary of the Navj^, we learn that the 
present naval power of the country consists of 278 ves- 
sels of all descriptions; carrying 2,351 guns, and about 
13,600 seamen, which in case of war could easily be 
doubled. 

7. We have in another place spoken of the naval 
academy, and said that its object was to educate young 
men for the naval service. The government has also 
appropriated ships, and established schools on board of 
them, for the instruction of boys in navigation and na- 
val warfare. These are called apprentices; and for 
good conduct and proficiency in their studies, they are 
promoted to the naval academy, and placed in the line 
of promotion. Thus the government is training up a 
class of young men for the navy who will not only be 
well educated, but well drilled in all the arts and 
sciences which pertain to the naval service. "In time 
of peace prepare for war," is a proverb on which the gov- 
ernment is now acting. 

8. For the construction of our vessels of* war and for 
their equipment and repairs, several navy yards have 
been established along the coast and on some of the 
navigable rivers. Here the ships are built, armed, 
equipped, manned and fitted out for their destination. 
The principal navy yards are at Philadelphia, Pa., 
Brooklyn K Y., Norfolk, Va., and Pensacola, Fla. 

9. Not half of the vessels belonging to the navy are, 
however, now (in time of peace) in commission, that is, 
in active service. The rest are either laid up, or in 
process of repair. Most of those in commission are 



240 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

employed in what is called squadron service. The 
Secretary of the Navy in a late report enumer- 
ates seven of these squadrons ; viz.: the Euro- 
pean, the Asiatic, the North Atlantic, the South Atlantic, 
the North Pacific, the South Pacific and the G-ulf 
squadrons. The names given to these squadrons indicate 
their whereabouts, and their cruising grounds. These 
squadrons consist of six, eight, ten, twelve or fifteen 
vessels, as the work to be done may require. It is 
their duty to visit the sea ports of the various countries 
along the coasts of which they cruise, in order to pro- 
tect our merchantmen against pirates or enemies of 
any description, which may molest them or interfere 
with their rights and privileges ; and also to look af- 
ter the interests and dignity of the United States. 

10. These squadrons are under command of a high 
naval officer of the rank of commodore or rear admi- 
ral, whose ship is called the flag ship of the squadron. 
Many of our naval officers have distinguished them- 
selves for bravery, skill, and patriotic devotion to their 
country, and have occupied the highest position of hon- 
or, and the most exalted places in the esteem and affec- 
tion of their countrymen. 

In 1862, Congress enacted that there should be nine 
grades of officers in the navy, and that their corres- 
ponding rank with military officers should be as follows: 

1. Kear- Admiral, with Major-General. 

2. Commodores, '" Brigadier-Generals. 

3. Captains, " Colonels. 

4. Commanders, " Lieutenant-Colonel. 

5. Lieut.-Commanders, " Majors. 

6. Lieutenants, " Captains. 

7. Masters, " First Lieutenants. 

8. Ensigns, " Second Lieutenants. 

9. Midshipmen, with no corresponding rank in the 
army. 



ARTICLES OF WAR. 241 

CHAPTER LXL 
Articles of War. 

1. As a sequel, or as a kind of appendix to what has 
been said about the array, it seems appropriate to make 
some remarks upon the " articles of war," as they 
are commonly called. These are not, as some might 
suppose them to be, rules made by the highest officer 
in command, for the government of the officers and 
soldiers of inferior rank ; but they are laws of Con- 
gress, acts of that body. Hence they come from the 
highest authority in the land, and are as binding upon 
the highest in command as upon the humblest pri- 
vate. 

2. They relate, of course, exclusively to the army, 
and consist of one hundred and one articles, each con- 
taining some specific rule or direction for the govern- 
ment of either officers, soldiers, or attachees of the 
army. They form a complete code of laws for them 
all while in actual service. The first one of these re- 
quires every officer in the army to subscribe these rules 
and regulations, before he enters upon his duties ; thus 
signifying his approval of them, and tacitly promising 
to regulate his conduct by them. 

3. But to recite the provisions of each article would 
require more space than we can appropriate to this 
theme. Let it suffice, then, to enumerate some of the 
principal subjects embraced in these articles, showing 
what matters relating to the army Congress has seen 
fit to regulate by legislation. These are — 



242 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

1st. Directions to both officers and men to attend 
public worship, accompanied by penalties prescribed 
for any improper behavior on such occasions. 

4. They prohibit the use of profane oaths and exe- 
crations, of contemptuous and disrespectful language 
against their superiors, the raising of a mutiny among 
the troops; and the striking, raising any weapon, or 
offering any violence to a superior officer. They pre- 
scribe the oath or affirmation which every officer and 
private must take upon his entrance into the army, 
and the penalties for the violation of any of the arti- 
cles of war, or the omission of any duties incumbent 
upon them. They contain rules for the enlistment, 
dismissal, and discharging of men, and for granting 
them furloughs and leave of absence, with penalties 
for desertion, or absence without leave. 

5. They prohibit duelling or challenging to a duel; 
make rules for sutlers in the army; prohibit embez- 
zlement of public property, or public money; sleeping 
while on guard; drunkenness; absence from parade; 
raising false alarms ; cowardice ; disclosing watchwords ; 
aiding or corresponding with the enemy. They pre- 
scribe the rank and grade of officers; direct how 
courts martial shall be constituted ; how proceedings 
shall be conducted in them ; and how deceased offi- 
cers' and soldiers' money, effects and arms, shall be 
disposed of. 

6. These are the most important among the provi- 
sions of the articles of war, and, with others of less 
note must be read and published once in every six 
months to every regiment or troop in the service. In 



ARTICLES OF WAR. 243 

many instances they prescribe specifically what punish- 
ment shall be inflicted for any violation of these rules 
and regulations ; but in other cases they leave the 
mode and amount of punishment to the discretion of 
the court martial before which the accused is tried. 
Penalties for military offences rise in severity, corres- 
ponding with the turpitude of the crime, from a small 
fine or imprisonment, up to death. The sentence of 
any court martial may, however, always be modified, 
commuted, or set aside by the President of the United 
States, who is, as is well known, commander-in-chief 
both of the army and navy. A general court martial 
is composed of commissioned officers, not less than 
five, nor more than thirteen in number. 



244 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT, 



CHAPTER LXn. 
Chaplains. 

1. If chaplains are not officers of the government, 
they are at least employees of it, for they are appointed 
by its authority, and paid from its treasury. Those in 
the army receive the same pay and emoluments as a 
major of infantry; or this was the compensation al- 
lowed by act of Congress in 1812. But by an act of 
1862, it was fixed at $100 per month, and two rations 
per day, for those in the army or hospitals. By the 
act of 1812, one chaplain was allowed to every brigade; 
but by an act of 1861, (during the civil war,) one for 
every regiment was allowed. 

Navy chaplains, in 1835, received $1,200 per year. 
But in 1860 this was raised to a lieutenant's pay ; and 
this in 1862 was $1,800 per annum. 

Chaplains in Congress receive $750 per annum. 

2. The United States also employ a chaplain in the 
military academy at "West Point. 

From the foregoing it will be seen that in time of 
war, with one chaplain for every regiment, and one 
for every ship of war, and others in hospitals and mili- 
tary posts, quite a large number of clergymen are em- 
ployed by the government. 

This provision for the religious instruction of those 
who cannot, from their peculiar position, attend the 
preaching of the Gospel, or other religious services, is 
certainly an indication that our government respects 



CHAPLAINS. 245 

religion, and looks after the spiritual as well as the 
temporal interests of its army and navy. 

3. In the appointment of chaplains, the government 
pursues a liberal course. No particular preference is 
given to any denomination, but they are appointed 
from almost every religious sect, and allowed to con- 
duct religious services after the forms of the church 
to which they respectively belong. 

Every body knows what the duties of a chaplain are. 
So we need not explain them here, and will only add 
that a faithful chaplain in the army in time of war has 
much to do besides preaching and holding regular 
services. The wounded, the sick, and the dying, 
should he the particular objects of his attention. He 
should not only minister religious instruction and con- 
solation to them, but look after their physical comforts. 
Many of these clergymen, during the late most unfor- 
tunate civil war, distinguished themselves by their ex- 
ertions to promote the bodily comforts of those unfor- 
tunate men, as well as to give them religious instruction, 
not refusing to nurse the sick and wounded whenever 
they could relieve theirpains or mitigate their sufferings. 



246 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXlfr. 
Ttie Naval Observatory, 

1. This institution is located in "Washington, and 
was established by act of Congress in 1842, and put 
into operation in 1844. Its name indicates the particu- 
lar object or purpose of its establishment. The 
" naval observatory " suggests the idea that it has some 
connexion with the navy, and so it has ; for the imme- 
diate object in founding it was to determine such as- 
tronomical problems as would be of great service to 
the navy. It is well known that astronomy lies at the 
foundation of nautical science, and that without the 
knowledge of the former, but little skill in the latter 
could ever be acquired. 

2. The observatory was built and furnished with va- 
rious astronomical and philosophical instruments, and 
a corps of professors were appointed to watch the 
movements of the heavenly bodies, and to make such 
observations and experiments as would enable them to 
determine many unsettled questions which relate to 
the science of navigation ; and incidentally to another 
great government work, having especial reference to 
the same subject; that is, the coast survey. 

The coast survey has already been ot great service 
to the interests of navigation — whether national or 
commercial vessels are regarded — and, when finished, 
much greater benefits are to be expected. When a 
sufficient number of observations and experiments 



NAVAL OBSERVATORY. 247 

snail have been made at the naval observatory, and 
published to the world, much valuable information 
will be added to what is already known. And indeed 
it would be disreputable to a nation having so large a 
navy and such a vast number of merchant ships upon 
the ocean, to do nothing for or add nothing to the sci- 
ence of navigation. It would be an unwise policy if 
economy only were studied, and we would justly de- 
serve the reproach of being penurious, short-sighted, 
and miserably wanting in disposition to promote the 
general good of the world. 

3. During the first nine years after the government 
of the United States went into operation, we had no 
Navy Department. The administration of the affairs 
of the very small navy which we then had, was placed 
in the hands of the Secretary of War ; and after a 
Navy Department was established, but little was done 
by the government to improve nautical science until 
the naval observatory was built; since that, much at- 
tention has been given to this important subject, and it is 
expected that corresponding results will follow. 

4. This institution owes more to that enlightened 
and truly patriotic President, John Q. Adams, than to 
any other man. He recommended it as far back as 
1823, and again in his first message to Congress. But 
political opposition to the man prevented his recom- 
mendations from being acted upon till nearly 20 years 
after they were made. This opposition was finally 
overcome, and we, and posterity after us, will reap 
the fruits of Mr. Adams' suggestions and labors to pro- 



248 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

mote the cultivation of that science which is at once a 
benefit and an honor to our country. 

5. The professors are assiduous in their labors, and 
publish the results of their observations and the facts 
they have determined. These are not only of use to 
our own seamen, but to those of all nations who are 
doing business on the great deep. Here the charts 
made by the coast survey are deposited, and from 
hence all our national vessels are furnished with them, 
and with all the nautical instruments they require. 

The charts, instruments and books relating to as- 
tronomy and navigation, found here, make it the head 
quarters and depot of nautical science in the United 
States. 



COAST SURVEY. 249 



CHAPTER LXIY. 
Coast Survey. 

1. The coast survey, the naval observatory and light 
houses are all of a similar character — government 
works in their purposes, and in their utility. The plan 
of making a survey of the whole coast, and of keep- 
ing it lighted, is one founded in a wise and generous 
policy. It aids commerce and encourages navigation, 
by making known the hidden dangers of the sea, and 
by giving directions how to avoid them. 

2. This government undertaking has not been as 
vigorously prosecuted as some other enterprises con- 
ducted by it. As early as 1807, Congress passed an 
act authorizing the President to have this work done. 
Much of it has been done, yet it is not finished at this 
day. Our acquisition of Florida, Texas and California 
has greatly extended our sea coast since the work was 
commenced, and its accomplishment has cost more 
time and labor than was anticipated at the beginning, 
yet we think it ought to have been completed in much 
less than 60 years. 

3. This work, like that relating to light houses, is 
under the management of a board, consisting of a su- 
perintendent, two principal assistants, two naval offi- 
cers and four officers of the army. These nine consti- 
tute the board. Then there are as many officers of the 
army and navy employed in the execution of the work 
as are deemed necessary. And the public vessels, by 
direction of the President, may be used in order to fa- 



250 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

cilitate the work, for much of it must be done at sea. 
The survey extends 20 leagues from the shore. The 
surveyors must make accurate charts (which I will call 
sea maps), of the whole coast, in which are laid down 
all the islands, shoals, roads or anchorage grounds 
within twenty leagues of any part of the shore of the 
United States. The courses or distances between the 
principal capes or headlands must be laid down, to- 
gether with the soundings (depth of water) and every 
thing else necessary to make a complete and accurate 
chart of every part of our coasts. 

4. An annual report of this work must be made to 
Congress in December of each year, accompanied with 
charts, showing the progress of the work, the number 
of persons employed, the expenses incurred, the amount 
of work finished, and what is unfinished. These re- 
ports and charts are carefully preserved, and copies of 
them may be had at Washington for the use of our 
naval and merchant ships, to which they are of great 
service, as guides whenever they are on or near the 
coast. This work, in its utility, is not confined to our- 
selves; but the important information obtained by it 
is of great use to the navigators of all nations who 
come into our ports or cruise on our coasts. They de- 
rive the same benefits from this work that we derive 
from theirs of the same kind. It is creditable" to any 
nation to do such things as are beneficial to the world, 
such acts as contribute to the welfare of humanity. 
Shipwrecks belong to the list of terrible calamities 
which often befall those "who go down to the sea in 
ships, that do business in great waters." Whoever 
diminishes these is a public benefactor. 



LIGHT HOUSES. 251 



CHAPTER LXV. 
Light Houses, Buoys and Beacons. 

1. These are all government establishments, and we 
must therefore notice them. They are built, lighted, 
repaired, and taken care of, wholly by the government. 
Every body knows the object for which they are con- 
structed. Guided by them, the mariner may approach 
the coast in the night with safety; while without them 
many noble ships would be wrecked, which now safely 
arrive in port. Humanity and interest both dictate 
their construction near the entrance to every sea port; 
and at the most dangerous and prominent points all 
along the sea coast. This our government has wisely 
done, not only on the sea coasts, which stretch for 
thousands of miles along our borders, but also along 
the shores of our navigable lakes and rivers. 

2. Keepers are appointed by the government to keep 
them in repair, and to see that they are property lighted 
every night. We have no means of knowing the num- 
ber of these useful establishments, but there must be 
several hundred of them; for we have more sea coast 
than any other nation upon the globe, with a still 
greater length of lake and river shore. They are loca- 
ted at prominent points, and at dangerous places, all 
along the extensive lines of coast and shores. 

3. All this work, like everything else done by the 
government, must be done according to law. To the 
end that light houses should be constructed aud kept 
in repair, and that competent men might have the 



252 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

whole matter in charge, a law of 1852 authorized the 
President to appoint two officers of the navy of high 
rank, one officer of the corps of engineers of the army, 
one officer of the topographical engineers, and two civi- 
lians of high scientific attainments, to form a light 
house board for the United States. This board is at- 
tached to the Treasury Department, and the Secretary 
of the Treasury superintends its operations. The 
board has in charge the building, illumination, and in- 
spection of light houses, light vessels, buoys, beacons, 
sea marks and their appendages. 

4. The Secretary of the Treasury is president of the 
board, and may convene them whenever he deems it 
necessary. 

The law makes it the duty of the board to divide 
the whole of the sea, gulf, and lake coasts, into light- 
house districts; not exceeding 12 in number. An offi- 
cer of the army or navy is assigned to each district, as 
a light-house inspector. 

We have not in detail enumerated all the duties de- 
volving on this board, and therefore say in general 
terms that they have the control of everything relating 
to light houses, light ships, buoys, beacons, or other 
means of directing vessels in and out of port, or of 
guiding them while sailing along the coast in the 
night. 

5. As foreign vessels receive the same benefits from 
our light houses as our own, there is nothing unfair or 
illiberal in requiring them to contribute something to- 
wards the expense of maintaining them. For this pur- 
pose Congress has imposed a tax, or laid a duty of 50 



LIGHT HOUSES. 253 

cents per ton on all foreign vessels entering any ports 
of the United States. This is called " light money," 
and needs no explanation. It is collected in the same 
way as tonnage duties are, i. e. by the collector of the 
port where the ship arrives. Light money is not re- 
quired of vessels owned by citizens of the United States, 
provided that they are regularly registered as the law 
directs, or have a sea letter. 

7. A sea letter is a document or certificate, given by 
the collector of a port, to the captain of an American 
vessel, certifying that she belongs to a citizen or citi- 
zens of the United States. Armed with this, the cap- 
tain can prove to all whom it may concern, anywhere 
in the world, the ownership and nationality of his ves- 
sel. This is a protection to her and her cargo, es- 
pecially in times of war. It is one of a ship's papers. 



254 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXVI. 
The Smithsonian Institution. 

1. This institution, though differing materially from 
almost every other government establishment, should 
be noticed in a work of this kind ; although nothing 
but the official machinery by which it was at first set in 
motion, and is continued in operation, belougs to the 
government. The funds with which it was founded, 
were furnished by an individual, and he a foreigner. 
The history runs thus: A noble-hearted Englishman, 
whose name was James Smithson, residing in the city 
of London, bequeathed all his property to the United 
States of America, for the purpose of founding in 
Washington an establishment to be known as the 
" Smithsonian Institution," for the purpose of increas- 
ing and diffusing knowledge among men. The Uni- 
ted States accepted the bequest, and in 1846 passed an 
act for the purpose of carrying out the beneficent de- 
sign of Mr. Smithson. This act created "an establish- 
ment," as it is denominated in the act, by the name 
before stated. It might have been called a corporation, 
for it has perpetual succession, and many of the pow- 
ers incident to a corporation. 

2. By this act the President and Vice President of 
the United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary 
of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, the Secretary 
of the E"avy, the Postmaster General, the Attorney 
General, and Chief Justice, the Commissioner of the 
Patent Office, and the Mayor of Washington — during 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 255 

the time they shall hold their respective offices, to- 
gether with such other persons as they may elect hon- 
orary members — were constituted the establishment 
under the name of the Smithsonian Institution. 

3. It is located at Washington, and is managed by a 
board of regents, composed of the Vice President of 
the United States, the Chief Justice of the United 
States, the Maj^or of Washington, three members of 
the Senate, and three members of the House of Rep- 
resentatives ; together with six other persons. The 
board choose their own officers, and report their pro- 
ceedings to Congress at each session thereof. 

4. In order to carry out Mr. Smithson's noble design 
of founding this institution, rooms have been prepared 
for the reception of all objects of art, natural history, 
plants, and geological and mineralogical specimens 
which now or hereafter may belong to the United 
States, and such as may hereafter be obtained. These 
are classified and arranged so as to facilitate their ex-' 
animation and study. A vast collection has already 
been obtained and deposited in the institution, and it 
is constantly increasing by donations, by the researches 
and industry of its professors, and by exchanges made 
w T ith kindred institutions at home and abroad. These 
are open to the examination of the public, and offer an 
opportunity to students and others to extend their sci- 
entific knowledge. This, together with the reports of 
its professors, of experiments and new discoveries, 
make it indeed an institution " for the increase and 
diffusion of knowledge among men." 



256 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER LXVTL 

Patent Office, Patent Rights, and the Commis- 
sioner of Patents. 

1. The foundation of our patent laws is found in the 
Constitution of the United States. In the powers it 
confers on Congress, the following is found : " To pro- 
mote the progress of science and useful arts, by secur- 
ing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclu- 
sive right to their respective writings and discoveries." 
On this authority, Congress has passed numerous acts 
for this purpose. We find one of this kind as early as 
1790. 

2. A patent right is an exclusive right, granted by 
an officer denominated the Commissioner of Patents, 
in conformity to law, to the inventor or discoverer of 
any new and useful article. The exclusive right is 
conferred by acts of Congress, on compliance of the in- 
ventor with certain conditions which are clearly speci- 
fied in the law. The evidence that such exclusive right 
has been conferred on any individual, is contained in 
a document, called " letters patent," issued at the pat- 
ent office in "Washington ; signed by the Secretary of 
the Interior, (formerly by the Secretary of State), coun- 
tersigned by the Commissioner of Patents, and sealed 
with the seal of his office. Thus protected, he alone 
can make, use and sell the article he has invented, for 
the term of fourteen years ; and upon showing a good 
reason therefor, the commissioner will extend the term 



THE PATENT OFFICE. 257 

seven years longer, or Congress will pass a special act 
for that purpose. 

3. This was the law up to 1861 ; and is still in force 
as to patents granted anterior to that date. But a new 
act was then passed, extending the term of an original 
patent to seventeen, instead of fourteen years, and pro- 
hibiting any extension of such patents. 

An inventor, before he can obtain a patent, must 
swear that he believes he is the inventor or discov- 
erer of the art, machine or improvement, for which he 
solicits a patent. He must also give in writing a clear, 
minute description of it ; and, when necessary, must 
make and deliver a model of his invention ; which in 
all cases must be something new, unused and unknown 
before, or his application will be rejected. There is 
considerable expense attending the procurement of a 
patent right. 

4. But when obtained, no person except the paten- 
tee, has any right to make, sell or use the article pat- 
ented, until the time has expired for which this exclu- 
sive right was granted, without the permission of the 
patentee. Any person doing so is liable to a heavy 
penalty, and may be prosecuted in the Circuit Court of 
the United States; this court having original jurisdic- 
tion in all cases arising under the patent laws. But a 
writ of error or an appeal lies to the Supreme Court of 
the United States. 

5. The Patent Office, when first established, was a 
bureau of the State Department, and the Commissioner 
of Patents acted under the direction of the Secretary of 
State. But after the creation of the Department of the 

9 



258 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Interior, in 1849, it was transferred to it, became a bu- 
reau of the new department, and the commissioner now 
acts under the general direction of its secretary. 

THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS 

6. Is appointed by the President and Senate. His 
duties are best explained in the language of the law 
itself, which, in speaking of the creation and appoint- 
ment of this official, says that his duties shall be " to 
superintend, execute and perform all such acts and 
things touching and respecting the granting and issu- 
ing of patents for new and useful discoveries, inven- 
tions and improvements, as are herein provided for, 
or shall hereafter be by law directed to be done and 
performed." 

He has the charge and custody of all books, records, 
papers, models, machines, and all other things belong- 
ing to the patent office ; and has the privilege of send- 
ing and receiving letters and packages by mail, relat- 
ing to the business of the office, free of postage. He 
has the power to appoint his clerks, examiners and 
subordinates ; among whom are patent office agents, 
who may be appointed in not more than twenty of the 
principal cities and towns in the United States. It is 
their duty to forward to the patent office all such 
models, specimens and manufactures, as shall be in- 
tended to be patented. 

7. In cases of appeal from the decision of the com- 
missioner, the appeal may be made to the board of ex- 
aminers, or to the Chief Justice of the District Court 
of the United States for the District of Columbia. 



THE PATENT OFFICE. 259 

There is a seal for the patent office, which the com- 
missioner keeps, and which he must affix to patents 
when granted, and to other papers and records issued 
from his office, which are wanted as evidence in other 
places. 

He is also authorized to puhlish a classified and al- 
phabetical list of all patents issued at the patent office. 
This he frequently does, for the information of the 
public. 



260 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXVHI. 
Copyrights. 

1. A copyright is an exclusive privilege given to 
any citizen of the United States to print, publish or 
sell any book, map, chart, engraving, or musical com- 
position of which he or she is the author. This right 
is given by the laws of Congress. No State can give 
it. The object of the law is to encourage authors, and 
to compensate them for their labors. This compensa- 
tion they would not receive if everybody might print 
and publish their productions. A copyright is a kind 
of property, and may be sold and inherited like other 
property. 

2. A compliance with the laws on this subject is ne- 
cessary, however, before the right can be secured. 
First, the author must deposit in the office of the clerk 
of the United States District Court of the district in 
which he resides, a printed copy of the title page of 
such book, map, chart, &c, and this must be recorded 
in the clerk's office. Second, within three months 
after the publication of the book or other work, the 
author must deposit a copy of it in the office of the 
same clerk. Third, he must also give information to 
the public, by causing to be inserted on the title page, 
or on the page immediately following it, the following 
words, viz.: " Entered according to act of Congress, in 
the year , by A. B., in the clerk's office of the dis- 
trict of ." The author or proprietor is also re- 
quired to deposit a copy of his work in the office of 
the Secretary of the Interior within three months 
after its publication. 



COPYRIGHTS. 261 

3. "When all these legal provisions are strictly com- 
plied with, the author receives from the Department o{ 
the Interior his letters — his copyright — which secure 
to him, his heirs or assigns, the exclusive right to 
print, publish and sell his work for the term of twenty- 
eight years. And if, in violation of this right, any 
person or persons shall print, publish, or sell the work 
thus secured to the author, he or they may be prose- 
cuted for damages in the Circuit Courts of the United 
States, which courts have exclusive jurisdiction in 
these cases, with right of appeal to the Supreme Court. 

4. The penalty for printing and publishing any work 
for which a copyright has been granted within twenty- 
eight years from the time when the title page was re- 
corded, is a forfeiture of every copy thus printed, and 
a fine of 50 cents for every sheet found in his posses- 
sion. One half of this fine is paid to the author, and 
the other to the United States. But the suit for the 
recovery of any damage done or penalty incurred for 
the violation of the copyright laws, must be brought 
within two years after the cause of action arose. 

5. Up to 1849 the department of the Secretary of 
State was charged with the duty of issuing copyrights, 
and with all other things pertaining to the duty of 
government in securing them to authors. But at that 
time the Department of* the Interior was created, and 
this business was transferred from the Department of 
State to this department, together with all the books, 
maps, charts, papers and documents relating to copy- 
rights. 

Our government is not peculiar in securing this right 
to authors. In nearly every civilized country whore 
literature is cultivated, you will find copyright laws. 



262 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXIX. 

Pensions, Commissioner of Pensions, Pension 
Office and Pension Agents. 

1. Pensions are annual allowances in money, made by 
the government to those men who have been either in 
the army or navy of the United States, and who have 
been wounded or disabled in the service of their coun- 
try. It amounts really to extra pay, over and above 
the monthly pay of an officer, soldier or sailor, at the 
time the wound was received. It has cost the United. 
States millions of dollars to support these pensioners ; 
for there never was a time since the establishment of 
the government when it had not more or less of these 
unfortunate men to provide for by money paid from 
the United States Treasury in the shape of pensions. 
At first there were the disabled soldiers and sailors of the 
Revolutionary war to be provided for, immediately after 
the government was put into operation. But few if 
any of them remain. Then came the second war with 
England, called the war of 1812, (from the year in 
which it commenced,) which greatly increased the 
number of pensioners. Then the war of 1846-7, with 
Mexico, added thousands to the pension roll. But all 
these wars put together never threw so many men on 
the government for support, or partial support, as the 
late civil war between the North and South. At no 
former period was the pension list so large as at pre- 
sent. It will remain so for years to come, requiring 
an appropriation of many millions annually to aid 
these unfortunate men who have become whollv or 



PENSIONS. 263 

partially incapable of supporting themselves. These 
greatly increase the expenses of the government, and 
afford a forcible comment upon the evils and horrors 
of war. 

2. The pension laws not only provide for officers and 
men who have been disabled by wounds, but it pro- 
vides for the widows and orphan children of such as 
have been killed in battle or died of sickness contracted 
while in the service of the country. These provisions, 
it will be readily seen, greatly increase the number of 
pensioners upon the government. These receive the 
same in amount as the husband or father would have 
received had he survived his wounds. 

3. It is not intended, in granting a pension to a per- 
son, to give him a full support. Pensions are mode- 
rate amounts, generally about half the pay which the 
recipient received at the time he was wounded. Offi- 
cers' pensions are graduated according to their rank. 

4. From what has already been said on this subject, 
it will be plainly seen that it requires much care, labor, 
and attention to keep correctly the list of pensioners 
upon the government, and to detect all the frauds 
which pension agents and other interested parties may 
perpetrate upon it. 

5. In order to accomplish this benevolent design of 
the government, a bureau was established in the War 
Department (since transferred to the Department of 
the Interior), at the head of which an officer denomi- 
nated the Commissioner of Pensions, is placed. This 
bureau isproperly the pension office. The commissioner 
is appointed by the President and Senate, and holds his 
office during the pleasure of the President. It was his 



264 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

duty formerly, under the direction of the Secretaries of 
"War and the Navy, but now under the supervision of 
the Secretary of the Interior, to execute all such 
duties relating to pensions as the President shall direct. 
He is charged to carry out all the laws in relation to 
this matter. 

6. The persons entitled to pensions are necessarily 
scattered all over the States and Territories, and many 
of them could not bear the fatigue or expense of mak- 
ing their demands at Washington. To render this 
unnecessary, the Sec'y of the Interior is authorized to 
appoint pension agents in all the States and Territories. 
These agents receive the money due to pensioners in 
the district where they reside, and distribute it as di- 
rected by the Commissioner of Pensions. In this way 
most of the pensions are paid — the agents receiving a 
per centage for their services. 

7. In order that the pensioners shall have and enjoy the 
full benefits of this government bounty, the law protects 
the pension, and does not allow it to be taken away 
from the recipient, by any process of law, for debt, or 
for any cause whatever. 

The preceding provisions are extended not only to 
those who have been injured in some of the great wars, 
but also to those who have been disabled in any of the 
Indian wars, of which we have had many, and which 
we are still having. 



HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS. 265 



CHAPTER LXX. 
Hospitals and Asylums. 

1. The hospitals and asylums for the sick, disabled, 
and insane in any country, are the evidences of the 
humanity, benevolence and Christian charity of the 
government of that country; and we know of none, in 
ancient or modern times, where these benevolent in- 
stitutions exist in greater number, or with greater ef- 
ficiency than in the United States. They have been 
established by the general government and by the 
several State governments ; by charitable societies and 
by individuals ; not only for the sick and infirm, but 
for the blind, the deaf, the insane and the idiotic. "We 
do not propose to go into any general history or de- 
scription of these institutions, but only to notice those 
established by the United States government, and now 
under its control, in order to show its care for those 
who have served their country, but are unable to pro- 
vide for their wants. 

2. The hospitals and asylums for sick and disabled 
soldiers and seamen, are located in different parts of 
the country ; and in such places as are the most acces- 
sible and convenient to those who are under the neces- 
sity of retiring to these places of refuge. 

The United States have established four kinds of 
these institutions, principally for relief of their soldiers 
and seamen. The first of these are 

THE MARINE HOSPITALS. 

3. These are located near important sea ports. At 



Z66 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

these places seamen depart for, and arrive from their 
voyages, and are found in the greatest numbers ; and 
here the funds for support of the marine hospitals are 
collected, as is the tonnage on ships, viz.: by the col- 
lectors of the ports. For this purpose the law author- 
izes the collectors of customs to demand and receive 
the sum of twenty cents per mouth from the wages of 
every sailor ; and every master of a vessel is obliged to 
render to the collector an accurate account of the num- 
ber of seamen on board his vessel, and of the time they 
have been employed by him, since his last entry into 
any port of the United States. These twenty cents 
the captain must pay the collector, but he is allowed 
to deduct it from each seaman's wages. In this man- 
ner the funds for the building, furnishing and support 
of the marine hospitals are raised. The collectors of 
the ports pay them into the United States Treasury, 
and the Treasurer disburses them to the directors of 
the hospitals as they are needed. The directors are 
appointed by the President. They appropriate the 
funds, and have the general direction and management 
of the institutions. 

4. These provisions are contained in an act entitled 
"An act for the relief of sick and disabled seamen," 
passed in 1798. Seamen, whether in the merchant 
service or in the naval service of the United States, 
were indiscriminately taxed for the support of these 
hospitals ; and both have the same rights, privileges 
and benefits in them. The money thus collected from 
seamen is called " hospital money," and the fund is 
denominated " the marine hospital fund." In 1864, 
there were 24 marine hospitals in the United States. 



HOSPITALS AND ASYLUMS. 2G7 

NAVY HOSPITALS. 

5. In 1811, an act was passed to establish navy hos- 
pitals, for the exclusive use of such seamen as belonged 
to the navy. This new institution was at first placed 
under the management of a board of commissioners 
known as the commissioners of navy hospitals. This 
commission consisted of the Secretaries of the Navy, 
Treasury and War. But in 1832 this was changed ; 
and the Secretary of the Navy was made sole trustee 
of the navy hospital fund, which was made up of $50, 
000 appropriated by Congress for that purpose, together 
with twenty cents per month collected from seamen 
belonging to the navy, and the fines imposed on navy 
officers, seamen and marines. 

6. The Commissioners were authorized to purchase 
or erect suitable buildings for navy hospitals. 

We need not go further in our remarks upon these 
institutions, for in all their objects and purposes, they 
are so similar to those of the marine hospitals just de- 
scribed, that anything further would be little more 
than repetition. 

MILITARY ASYLUMS. 

7. In 1851, Congress passed an act for the establish- 
ment of military asylums, for the purpose of making 
the same provisions for wounded and disabled soldiers 
as had already been made for that class of sea- 
men. These institutions are located in different sec- 
tions of the country where deemed most eligible and 
convenient for those who need such a place of refuge. 
They are placed under the government of a board 



268 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

of commissioners, consisting of the general in chief, 
and eight other military officers of high rank, who 
submit their acts to the Secretary of War for his ap- 
proval. 

8. The officers of these asylums must be taken from 
the army, and consist of a governor, a deputy gover- 
nor and secretary, who is also treasurer. The funds 
for their support are raised by a tax of twenty-five 
cents per month on the soldiers, to which are added 
the fines and penalties adjudged against soldiers by 
courts martial, with forfeitures for desertion, &c. 

Persons receiving pensions from the government 
may be admitted into these asylums upon condition 
that they surrender their pensions to the use of the in- 
stitution while they remain in it. 

The commissioners are authorized to buy sites and 
buildings for these institutions, and to receive dona- 
tions of them. They also furnish them with whatever 
is necessary for the comfort of the inmates, and make 
such laws and regulations for their government as they 
deem proper. 

Deserters, mutineers, and habitual drunkards, are 
excluded from the benefits of these asylums. 

INSANE ASYLUM. 

9. Among these benevolent institutions provided by 
a generous government for the support of those who 
have faithfully served their country, the insane asylum 
ought to be noticed. The title of this establishment is 
"the government hospital for the insane." Its objects 
are the cure and kind treatment of the insane of the 
army and navy, and of the District of Columbia. It is 



HOSPITALS AMD ASYLUMS. 269 

under the control of a board of nine visitors, all of 
whom must be citizens of the said District. They are 
appointed by the President, and annually report to the 
Secretary of the Interior the condition of the asy- 
lum and its inmates. They serve without compensation. 

10. But the superintendent, who must be a phy- 
sician, receives $2,000 per annum for his services. 
There is a farm attached to the asylum, which is under 
the direction of the superintendent, who receives pa- 
tients upon the order of the Secretary of War or 
Navy, and upon the order of the Secretary of the In- 
terior. He may receive indigent insane persons residing 
in the District of Columbia. If other than indigent 
persons are admitted, they must pay for the privilege 
a sum not less than the cost of their support. 

11. The foregoing might suffice for what we have to 
say upon these government establishments, because it 
includes all which are permanent institutions, designed 
to be in perpetual operation, and very different from 
the military hospitals in time of war. These are for 
temporary purposes, and are established wherever the 
army happens to be, and especially hear where the great 
battles have been fought, that immediate relief may be 
given to the sick and wounded. These are established 
by the commanders of the army, and are under their con- 
trol. And here let it be recorded to their praise, that 
since military hospitals were known, never have any 
been seen which for order, cleanliness and efficiency in 
administering to the comfort and care of the sick and 
wounded soldiers, surpassed those of the United States 
during; the late civil war. 



270 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER LXXI. 
Commissioner of Public Buildings, 

1. The buildings at Washington belonging to the 
United States, are the grandest, the largest and the 
most expensive in the country. The capitol in which 
Congress meets, is the largest and most expensive 
building ever erected on the continent, and is sur- 
passed by few in the world. The Treasury building, 
the General Post Office, and the Patent office, are all 
splendid structures, as are also many others devoted to 
the transaction of public business. 

2. These all require repairs, alterations, care and 
oversight, that they may be preserved and kept in 
order. The duty of superintendence of these public 
buildings was formerly placed in the hands of three 
commissioners and a superintendent of public build- 
ings. 

But in 1816.. an act was passed by which the offices 
of superintendent and three commissioners were 
abolished, and their duties all put into the hands of 
one man, who is denominated " the commissioner of 
public buildings." He is appointed by the President 
and Senate, and can hold no other office under the 
United States. He must give bonds for the faithful 
performance of his duties, and must reside near the 
capitol. In the discharge of his duties he acts under 
the direction of the President and the presiding offi- 
cers of the two Houses of Congress. 



COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 271 

3. It is made his duty to report to Congress at the 
commencement of each session, the manner in which 
all appropriations for the public buildings have been 
applied, the condition they are in, together with that 
of the public grounds, and also to report the means 
necessary for their perservation. It is his duty to take 
charge of and superintend all the buildings belonging 
to the United States in Washington, and to perform 
all such duties as the laws from time to tims re- 
quire of him. 

[The office of Commissioner of Public Buildings has 
been abolished since the above was written. The du- 
ties are now performed by an officer from each depart- 
ment.] 



272 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXXH. 
Congressional and Law Libraries. 

1. In the capitol there is a large library, consisting 
of two parts ; one part called the Congressional library, 
the other, the law library. The latter is made a part 
of the former by an act of Congress. Both are sub- 
ject to the same laws and rules, and both are sup- 
ported by appropriations made by Congress. This in- 
stitution bearing the title of " Congressional library," 
might lead to the supposition that it was established 
for the exclusive use of Congress. But this is not so. 
Its use has been extended to the judges of the Su- 
preme Court ; to all the heads of departments, to the 
Attorney General; to all the members of the diplo- 
matic corps, (foreign ministers) ; to the secretary of the 
Senate; to the clerk of the House of Representatives, 
to the chaplains of Congress, all ex-Presidents and to 
the solicitor of the Treasury. 

2. It has a librarian, appointed by the President and 
Senate, who is allowed to appoint two assistants. E"o 
Dook or map is allowed to be taken out of the library 
by any person, except the President, Vice-President, 
members of the Senate and of the House of Represen- 
tatives. 

3. Here are kept all the laws which have ever been 
enacted by Congress, together with a record of all its 
proceedings, the laws of all the different States, with 
many of those of foreign countries; also a large col- 



CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY. 273 

lection of books on promiscuous subjects, useful to 
Members of Congress and to those who have to ad- 
minister the government. No where else can so com- 
plete a history of the acts and proceedings of the gov- 
ernment be found, as in the Congressional library at 
Washington. 

This institution dates back to the year 1800, when 
an act was passed making the first appropriation of 
$5,000 for its establishment. The books purchased 
with this $5,000, with those belonging to both 
Houses, were placed together, and thus this library 
was commenced. 



274 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER LXXTTL 
The Official Register. 

1. Congress, in 1816, passed an act authorizing 
and requiring the Secretary of State, once in two years, 
to print and publish a book called "the official regis- 
ter," in which he was ordered to register the names of 
every officer and agent of the government, in the civil, 
military and naval departments, including cadets and 
midshipmen, together with the compensation received 
by each; the names of the State and county where 
born; and the name of the place where employed, 
whether at home or abroad. 

To the list of persons employed in the Navy Depart- 
ment, the Secretary of the Navy is required to subjoin 
the names, force and condition of all the ships and ves- 
sels belonging to the United States, and when and 
where built. 

This work has been published and distributed, as the 
law directs, ever since the passage of the act, and is 
sometimes denominated "the blue book." It is a very 
convenient and useful publication, as it shows in com- 
pact form the whole official force of the government 
in each department, together with the cost of main- 
taining it. 

So small a number of this work is published, that 
but few except officials ever see it. It can be found 
in the Congressional library at Washington, where 
twenty-five copies of each edition are deposited. 



GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 275 



CHAPTER LXXIV. 
The Government Printing Office. 

1. But few people have any adequate idea of the 
enormous amount of printing done by the government. 
All the proceedings of both Houses of Congress are 
printed ; all the laws are printed, and hundreds of bills 
which are never passed into laws, are printed. The 
President's messages and all the reports of heads of de- 
partments and bureaus ; the reports and commissions 
of army and navy officers, of investigating committees, 
of various superintendents, agents, and government 
employees, and a multitude of other things quite too 
tedious to enumerate, are all printed in great numbers, 
often reaching thousands of copies. It is easily under- 
stood that the government printing is a heavy item in 
its expenses, and everybody knows it is much heavier 
than it ought to be. The people are taxed to pay for 
large editions of books and documents that are never 
read, and in which the public feel little or no interest. 

2. Until 1860, the government hired men to do this 
work, and a printer was employed by each house of 
Congress. But great complaints were made of the 
enormous expense to which the country was subjected 
in this item of its expenditures ; and at the date named, 
Congress passed an act establishing a government 
printing office, to be under the direction of a superin- 
tendent of public printing. The sum of $150,000 was 
appropriated for the purchase of necessary buildings, 
machinery, and materials for the purpose. By the pro- 



276 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

visions of the act it was made the superintendent's duty 
to overlook all the public printing and binding, not 
only of Congress, but of all the departments, and of 
the United States courts; to purchase all necessary 
materials and to employ all the workmen required. 
And that Congress may know how the establishment 
is conducted and at what expense, the superintendent 
is required to report to Congress at the commencement 
of every session, the work done, the number of hands 
employed, and the exact state and condition of the es- 
tablishment. He is prohibited from paying more for 
work done in this office than is given for the same ser- 
vices in private printing offices in "Washington. 

8. The superintendent is also charged with the duty 
of procuring all blank books, maps, drawings, diagrams, 
views and charts, which may be ordered by Congress, 
or by the heads of departments and bureaus. But the 
superintendent himself is not left to act always as he 
may think proper, for in many cases he must have the 
approval of the joint committee on printing of both 
Houses of Congress. 

We have given a brief but comprehensive view of 
this government establishment. Whether it will an- 
swer the purposes of its creation, and prove to be a 
means of saving to the government, remains to be seen. 

4. If it should be successful, the people may con- 
gratulate themselves that one change has been made 
for the better, and that one effort to curtail taxation, 
and to lessen the public expenses, has been accom- 
plished. Among * the causes which may produce the 
overthrow of our government, few are more danger- 



GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 277 

ous than the reckless extravagance with which our 
rulers appropriate and spend the public moneys, seem- 
ing to forget the fact that such extravagance falls 
with crushing weight upon the laboring classes, who 
always pay directly or indirectly the greater portion 
of the expenses of the government. And those who 
make our laws would do well to consider that noth- 
ing is more dangerous to our present form of gov- 
ernment, than the enactment of laws that appear 
burthensome or tyrannical. History teaches us that 
a free people will endure much before rising against 
their own form of government. But when once im- 
pelled to such a course, all odious laws, and those 
who make them, must share a common fate. 



278 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT, 

CHAPTER LXXV. 
Prisons. 

1. Although Congress has passed laws for the pun- 
ishment of almost every crime which has ever been 
punishable by the laws of any civilized nation, and 
has prescribed various kinds of punishment for differ- 
ent crimes, such as fines, imprisonment, and death by 
hanging, imprisonment is by far the most common. 
Yet we find nothing in the laws to show — nor have 
we ever known — that the United States have ever built 
a prison or directed one to be built; although thou- 
sands have been put in prison for violations of the 
United States laws. But how is this done when they 
have no prisons? The answer is that they use the 
prisons of the States wherever they will allow it. 
This arrangement between the general and State gov- 
ernments has been made in nearly if not all the States; 
the United States paying for the support of their pris- 
oners. 

2. But in case any State should refuse to make such 
an agreement, the United States marshal of any dis- 
trict where a prisoner is to be confined, is authorized 
to procure some building where the prisoners may be 
safely confined in the district where they have been 
tried and convicted, or where they have been arrested 
and are held for trial. 

This is a far more economical plan than it would be 
for the United States to build prisons all over the 
country, and then to employ keepers of them. It ex- 
emplifies the friendly relations existing between the 
States and the general government. 



AGRICULTURE. 279 



CHAPTER LXXVL 
Agriculture. 

1. In May, 1862, Congress passed an act, the two 
first sections of which read as follows : 

Sec. 1. " There is hereby established at the seat of 
government of the United States, a department of ag- 
riculture ; the general designs and duties of which 
shall be to acquire and diffuse among the people of 
the United States, useful information on subjects con- 
nected with agriculture, in the most general and com- 
prehensive sense of that word, and to procure, propa- 
gate and distribute among the people new and valua- 
ble seeds and plants." 

Sec. 2. u There shall be appointed by the President, 
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a 
commissioner of agriculture, who shall be the chief 
executive officer of the department of agriculture ; 
who shall hold his office by a tenure similar to that of 
other civil officers appointed by the President, and 
who shall receive for his compensation a salary of three 
thousand dollars per annum." 

2. We have inserted these two sections of this law, 
because we could not by any language of our own, 
convey any better idea of the objects and purposes for 
which this new department was created. In the lan- 
guage of the law it is called a department, but as its 
head ranks no higher than a commissioner, we think it 
would be more properly styled a bureau of the De- 
partment of the Interior. 



280 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

3. The duties of the head of this bureau are to ac- 
quire and preserve in his department all the informa- 
tion concerning agriculture which he can obtain by 
means of books, correspondence and experiments. For 
this latter purpose a propagating garden is provided for 
his use. He is also to collect as many new seeds and 
plants as he is able to obtain, to test their value by cul- 
tivation, and then to distribute them among agricultu- 
rists. He superintends the expenditure of all money 
appropriated by Congress to the department, and re- 
ports the same annually to Congress, together with his 
acts, experiments, &c. 

He has the power to appoint a chief clerk and such 
other subordinates as Congress may deem necessary. 
The commissioner and his chief clerk both give bonds 
for the right appropriation of all moneys received by 
them, and for the faithful performance of their respec- 
tive duties. 

This bureau is yet in its infancy. Sufficient time 
has not elapsed for its development, or to show the re- 
sults of its experiments. It will undoubtedly become 
an important and useful institution hereafter. 



INDIANS. 281 



CHAPTER LXXVIL 

Indians. 

1. Every one acquainted with the history of Amer- 
ica, knows that when first discovered by Christopher 
Columbus in 1492, the whole continent, North as well 
as South, was peopled with Indians. They were the 
aborigines or first inhabitants of the country ; and ac- 
cording to the recognized rules and usages of the 
world, they were the owners of the soil. This right 
has been admitted by our government, and hence we 
have purchased these lands at such prices as were 
agreed upon by the two parties. The Indians placed 
a lower value upon them than the whites ; for, with 
the exception of small patches here and there, which 
they cultivated for corn and tobacco, they made no use 
of their lands except for hunting grounds ; while the 
whites wanted them for cultivation. In this way the 
whites have become the possessors of nearly all the 
land once owned by the Indians, whose possessions 
now are very small. 

2. Their idle habits, their frequent wars among them- 
selves, and the wars with the whites growing out of 
their murderous propensities, have almost exterminated 
the whole race. There is now but a small remnant 
left of what was 200 years ago a mighty host. Many 
of these tribes have become entirely extinct, others are 
nearly so ; and scarcely one of them is found Avliose 
numbers are not greatly diminished. It is melan- 
choly to contemplate the fate of these poor savages. 



282 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

As nearly as can be ascertained, there are not more 
than abut 300,000 of them left in the United States. 
These are mostly to be found west of the Mississippi 
river, and stretching thence to the shores of the Pacific. 
A few of them have remained among the whites, and 
become civilized ; but most of them have kept aloof 
from civilization, perferring their wandering habits, 
and relying on hunting and fishing for a subsistence. 
They do not admit themselves to be citizens of our 
government, neither do we claim them as such, nor do 
we exercise any jurisdiction or authority over them, 
except for the perpetration of crimes. We treat them 
as foreigners, not as citizens, and hence we make trea- 
ties with them as we do with foreign nations. 

3. Our treaties with them have related principally to 
the purchase of lands and to stipulations of amity and 
frendship between us. But they are sometimes treach- 
erous, and do not act toward us as they have agreed to 
do. This has led to a number of wars between us and 
them ; the fault of which has not always been on the 
side of the Indians. The whites have often treated 
them badly ; have often cheated them, and killed them; 
and this has led to some of the wars we have men- 
tioned. 

4. The preceding remarks might have been omitted 
in a work of this kind, had they not seemed to be appro- 
priate as an introduction to the notice we ought to take 
of the numerous treaties with the Indians, the officers 
and agents of the government in making and carrying 
out those treaties, and of the numerous laws passed by 
Congress in relation to Indians and Indian affairs. 



INDIANS. 283 

5. The Indians are unlearned, ignorant and barbar- 
ous. It has required a great deal of wisdom and good 
management on the part of the government, to keep 
on goodterms with them, and to prevent them from 
murdering the whites, or from stealing their property, 
where they have settled near them. The United States 
have also restrained our own citizens from purchasing 
their lands, from trading with them, and especially 
from selling them intoxicating liquors, of which they 
are very fond. If these negotiations were allowed be- 
tween them and the whites, the Indians would, in nu- 
merous instances, be over-reached and cheated by un- 
scrupulous and dishonest white men. This would lead 
to murders and wars, for an Indian seems to have no 
idea of redress for a wrong done to him, other than 
that of killing the wrong-doer. The government, 
through its agents, buys their lands, and pays them in 
money or in goods, according to the terms of the treaty. 
Hence the necessity of government officers appointed 
to execute the laws relating to Indians and Indian af- 
fairs. 

6. There is in the Interior Department a bureau for 
this express purpose, the head of which is called the 

COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 

He is appointed by the President and Senate, and 
performs his duties under the direction of the Secre- 
retary of War. 

In addition to this officer, there are superintendents 
of Indian affairs, and Indian agents, over whom the 
superintendents exercise a directing power. These 



284 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

superintendencies and agencies are not permanent estab- 
lishments, but are continued as long as any consider- 
able number of Indians remain near the agency. "When 
they have sold their lands and removed farther west, 
the agency is discontinued, or removed to the place 
where the Indians have located themselves. 

The President may discontinue any Indian agency 
whenever he thinks it expedient to do so. 

7. The bureau of Indian affairs, we have said, was 
attached to the War Department, but after the estab- 
lishment of the Department of the Interior, in 1849; it 
was detached from the War Department and attached 
to that of the Interior, the Secretary of which exer- 
cises supervisory power over it. 

8. As before stated, the Indians are not citizens of 
the United States. They have no Representatives in 
Congress, and in adjusting the number of Representa- 
tives to which any State is entitled from the number of 
its inhabitants, the Indians (excepting a few who are 
taxed), are not counted. The government has exer- 
cised parental care over them in endeavors to prevent 
them from warring upon each other, and to induce 
them to adopt the habits of civilized life ; in the pay- 
ments made for their lands, in the pains it has taken 
to furnish them with agricultural and mechanical im- 
plements ; in the employment of mechanics and 
teachers to reside among them and to instruct them in 
science and the mechanical arts. It also employs in- 
terpreters, for but few of them can speak the English 
language. 

9. The superintendents and agents, if so directed by 



INDIANS. 285 

the President, make treaties of amity and friendship 
with them, and for the purchase of their lands. The 
government does not allow citizens or foreigners to re- 
side among them or to trade with them without a li- 
cense; and for the purpose of keeping on friendly 
terms with them, it often makes valuable presents of 
such articles as they need. 

10. Superintendents and agents are appointed for 
four years; give bonds for the faithful performance of 
their duties, and report and account to the Depart- 
ment of the Interior for the money and goods paid to 
and distributed among the Indians. 

INDIAN FUNDS AND INDIAN ANNUITIES. 

11. In order to prevent them from squandering their 
money for rum and useless trinkets, and to save them 
from being cheated by dishonest traders, the United 
States government has invested the money paid for 
their lands in sound and safe stocks, and annually pay 
them the interest, through its superintendents and 
agents. The disbursement of this interest, called In- 
dian annuities, among the different tribes and indi- 
viduals to whom it belongs, is an important part of the 
duties of these government agents. 



286 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXXVHL 
Passports. 

1. Passports are one of the devices or means used 
by governments to protect their citizens when in for- 
eign countries. They are written documents, issued 
and signed by an authorized agent of the government 
which gives them. The design of a passport is, First: 
to give authentic information to whom it may concern, 
to what nation the bearer of the passport belongs; and 
second, to protect him, and secure to him all the 
rights and privileges which the government has a right 
to claim for its citizens by virtue of any treaty of 
amity and friendship existing between it and the coun- 
try whither its citizens may go. 

The passport informs the world that the bearer of it 
is sfccitizen of the United States, and that he travels 
under its protection, and that it would demand and ex- 
act satisfaction of any one who wronged or injured 
him who bears such credentials. 

2. In the United States, the Secretary of State is the 
officer authorized by law to issue passports. He has 
the authority also to cause them to be issued in for- 
eign countries by our foreign ministers and consuls, 
under such restrictions and rules as maybe designated 
by the President. This is allowed as a matter of con- 
venience to our citizens who happen to be in foreign 
countries without them ; who need their protection, 
and who would be subjected to much delay and ex- 
pense by going or sending home to procure them. 

Passports are not granted to any other than citizens 
of the United States, whether issued by the Secretary 



PASSPOKTS. 287 

or by any diplomatic or consular agent of our govern- 
ment. 

3. Besides these passports, which are given only to 
our own citizens when in foreign countries, or who in- 
tend to go there, there is another kind issued to for- 
eigners who wish to go among the Indians in the In- 
dian territory, or on the Indian reservations. Indeed, 
our own citizens are not allowed to go among them 
without permission. But foreigners cannot go with- 
out a passport from the Secretary of War, which spe- 
cifies the route over which the bearer must pass, and 
the length of time he is allowed to remain among 
them. This is done to prevent unfriendly foreigners 
from fomenting mischief, or from exciting unkind feel- 
ings towards our government or people. Such un- 
friendly feelings have been created by foreigners, and 
we have often experienced the bitter fruits of it, es- 
pecially in times of war. 

4. Still another kind of passports is used in this 
country, and should be noticed under this head. They 
are passports for American ships or vessels. When 
they are about to sail for a foreign port, the laws of 
the United States require each to procure one, under a 
penalty or fine of two hundred dollars upon the mas- 
ter if he departs from the United States for a foreign 
country (other than some port in America), without it. 
The passport is prepared by the Secretary of State and 
is approved by the President. This is given to the 
master by the collector of the port from which the 
vessel sails, and is one of the ship's papers, by which 
her nationality is known, and her protection shown to 
be that of the United States. 



288 OUTLINES OE U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXXIX. 
Reports. 

1. As Congress is the law-making power of the gov- 
ernment, and legislates for every department thereof, 
assigning such business to each as it deems proper, 
giving directions, and prescribing the duties of all the 
government officials, agents, commissioners and em- 
ployees, nothing is more obvious than that it should be 
kept well informed and advised of what has been done 
in each department and bureau; and by every head, or 
principal officer and agent of the government wherever 
employed. And for this purpose it is enacted that the 
Secretaries of State, Treasury, "War, Navy, Interior, 
and Postmaster General, together with the commis- 
sioners of the different bureaus, and boards attached 
to these departments, shall annually report to Congress. 
Heads of departments report directly to Congress. So 
do many of the commissioners who are at the head of 
bureaus. Boards report to the heads of departments 
to which they are attached. 

2. In this way Congress is kept advised of whatever 
is done in every department, bureau, or board, to which 
any of the public business is entrusted. These reports 
not only furnish the law-making power with such in- 
formation as it needs, but serves as a check to any offi- 
cial misconduct. The annual reports of the Secreta- 
ries of the Treasury, War, and Navy, together with 
that of the Postmaster General, are State papers 
which rank in importance next to the annual message 



REPORTS. 289 

of the President. To them the people look for a de- 
tailed account of the state and condition of those great 
departments over which these Secretaries preside, and 
which so materially affect the pecuniary and other 
great interests of the nation. 

3. The foregoing remarks upon reports, may not be 
considered of sufficient importance to deserve an in- 
sertion here, but they throw some light upon the 
movements of the machinery by which the government 
is operated, and show how officials are held responsi- 
ble to the superior power. 

In this connection we may notice another kind of 
reports, which come from another source. After each 
Congress has convened and organized, the President 
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House appoint 
what are denominated the standing committees of each 
of these bodies. 

When bills are presented to be passed into laws, or 
petitions are sent in, they are always referred to the 
appropriate committee, which examines them and then 
reports to the body (of the Senate or House) their con- 
clusions upon the merits or demerits, propriety or im- 
propriety, of granting the petition, or of passing the 
bill under consideration. 

These reports generally govern the action of Congress 
when they come to vote upon the passage of the law. 
But that is not always the case ; the body of either 
House may think differently from its committee, and 
act contrary to its recommendations. 



10 



290 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXXX. 
Commissioners. 

1. In the history and laws of the United States, the 
word " commissioner " occurs so frequently, that it may 
add something to the utility of our work to make a 
few remarks about them, to show their relations to the 
government, when acting either in permanently estab- 
lished official positions, or as temporary agents. 

In the first place, they act as heads of bureaus in the 
various departments. These bureaus, with their com- 
missioners at their heads, are permanent sub-depart- 
ments and officials of the government, established and 
provided for by law; such are the commissioners of the 
land office, patent office, pension office, &c. 

2. In the second place, they can hardly be considered 
officers, but rather temporary or special agents. In the 
multifarious duties devolving upon Congress, the Presi- 
dent, and all the departments, it not unfrequently hap- 
pens that is impracticable for them to do certain things 
necessary to be done. The business to be transacted 
may be at a great distance from the capital, even in a 
foreign country. In these cases commissioners are ap- 
pointed to do such business. They have been appoin- 
ted to negotiate a peace, to make treaties of various 
kinds between us and other powers, and to negotiate 
with the Indians for the purchase of their lands. The 
United States courts appoint them to take bail, or to 
take testimony to be used on trials, and do various 
other things necessary in trials and proceedings before 
them. 



COMMISSIONERS. 291 

Congress frequently appoints commissioners to ob- 
tain information, or to investigate some matter on 
which they expect to legislate. In all cases they must 
report their proceedings, either to Congress, to the 
President, or to the head of the department under 
whose instruction they act. Permanent commissioners 
report once a year, or often er if required, that Congress 
may know the condition of affairs in their respective 
bureaus. Special commissioners, after they have per- 
formed the work assigned, make their report; after 
which their duties cease, and their commission comes 
to an end. 

3. The foregoing maybe thought too simple and too 
well understood to require any description. This is so, 
as it regards intelligent adults; but it should be borne 
in mind that these pages are written with special re- 
ference to the youth of the country. 

It should be added that the lowest grade of diploma- 
tic agents, who represent our government to some of 
the most inferior powers, are called commissioners. 
We are thus represented at the present time in the 
Republics of ITayti and Liberia. 

4. By recent acts of Congress, the powers of com- 
missioners in some cases have been enlarged. They 
now examine persons charged with crimes against the 
laws of the United States; hold them to bail, discharge 
them, or commit them to prison; and do other magis- 
terial acts, preliminary to the trial of the accused. 
When acting in such cases, they are clothed with some 
of the powers of a court. 



292 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXXXI. 
Religion. 

1. The people of the United States glory in the fact 
that in their country there is no religion established 
by law, as in England and several other countries. 
Where this is the case, no other than the one estab- 
lished by law is tolerated; or if tolerated, special favors 
and benefits are conferred on the national church, at 
the expense of all others. 

"We enjoy complete religious freedom, and it is hoped 
we always shall. The Constitution guarantees this, in 
the following words : " Congress shall make no law re- 
specting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting 
the free exercise thereof." 

In another place it says, that "no religious test shall 
ever be required as a qualification to any office or pub- 
lic trust, under the United States." 

What power in a few words ! These words in our 
Constitution have been, and will be of inestimable 
value to our country; for they have greatly increased 
its population and wealth. This feature of our govern- 
ment has caused thousands to migrate to the United 
States, where they will neither be persecuted, nor 
taxed, to support a church in which they do not believe. 
Everybody is left to worship when and where and as 
he pleases. This is called religious liberty, and is as 
it ought to be. True Christianity never required the 
support of the State, and where it has been given, it 
has invariably been corrupted. We hope the day is 
not far off when every government on earth will fol- 
low our example in this respect. 



PROCLAMATIONS. 293 

CHAPTER LXXXII. 
Proclamations. 

1. A Proclamation is an official notice given by one 
high in authority, for the purpose of giving reliable 
and authoritative information to the people that some- 
thing has been done, or will soon be done, which is 
important for them to know, that they may act, or re- 
frain from acting according to the information con- 
tained in the proclamation. These proclamations are 
made known to the country through the most exten- 
sive channels of information that can be used for con- 
veying intelligence to everybody in the realm. In our 
day, and in our country, the newspapers are the best 
means that can be used for this purpose. But in an- 
cient times, and before the art of printing was known, 
swift riders or runners were dispatched to every part 
of the % kingdom or country over which the proclama- 
tion was to be made known. These messengers car- 
ried it with them, and proclaimed it in the ears of all 
the people. 

We have made these general remarks about procla- 
mations for the purpose of introducing the following 
observations upon those official papers so often issued 
by the President, and also by the Governors of the re- 
spective States. These, as above stated, are for the 
purpose of giving important information to the peo- 
ple. It is now the custom of the Executive to desig- 
nate some day selected by him as a day of thanksgiving, 
recommending the day to be observed in a religious 



294 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

manner, in acknowledgment of God's favor to us as a 
nation. This is made known to the people by a proc- 
lamation of the President. A day of fasting and prayer 
is designated and proclaimed in the same way. Im- 
portant changes in the commercial affairs between us 
and some foreign country are made known by the 
same method. 

2. A memorable proclamation was made by Presi- 
dent Lincoln, in 1862, by which he made known to the 
country, and especially to the Southern States, that if 
they continued their war against the United States 
for one hundred days after its issuance, he would then, 
in virtue of his authority as commander-in-chief of the 
army and navy, liberate the slaves in all the seceded 
States. At the expiration of the time, which was on 
the first of January, 1863, he issued another proclama- 
tion, in and by which he did emancipate all the slaves 
in every State which had rebelled against the United 
States government. 

The blockading of our ports at the commencement 
of the civil war, and the imposition of an embargo upon 
our shipping, previous to the last war with England, 
were both subjects which brought out proclamations 
from the President who then filled the Executive 
chair. 

4. The above example shows the character of cases 
which cause proclamations to be issued. In some in- 
stances they have the authority of law ; in others they 
are merely recommendations ; and in others only com- 
municate important intelligence in regard to our pub- 
lic affairs at home or abroad. 



TREASON. 295 

CHAPTER LXXXIH. 
Treason. 

1. "We do not propose in this work to treat of crimes 
generally. But treason, which is a great crime, and 
which aims at the existence or at the peace of the gov- 
ernment, may with propriety be briefly noticed in a 
work of this kind. 

The Constitution itself defines treason in these words 
(see article 3, section 3): " Treason against the United 
States shall consist only in levying war against them, 
or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and 
comfort." Then an act of Congress, passed on the 
30th of April, 1790, approved and signed by Washing- 
ton, again defines in nearly the same words, and makes 
the penalty therefor to be death by hanging. 

2. By another act passed 17th July, 1862, it was 
made discretionary with the court trying the case to 
put the offender to death, or to imprison him for not 
less than five years, and to fine him for a sum not 
less than ten thousand dollars. The penalty for this 
crime, even in its mildest form is very severe ; thus show- 
ing how atrocious this offense is considered. 

3. None but a person owing allegiance to the United 
States can commit treason against them. The same 
acts which would be treason in a citizen would not be 
treason if perpetrated by a foreigner. 

" Misprision of treason" is the concealment of it by 
a person who knows it has been committed. This 



296 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

also is a grave offense, and is punishable by a seven 
years' imprisonment, and a fine not exceeding one 
thousand dollars. 

4. Any person tried for treason, must be indicted 
by a grand jury ; and then tried by a petit jury in the 
Circuit Court of the United States within three years 
after the crime has been committed; otherwise it is 
barred by limitation — or, in other words, outlawed. 



IMPEACHMENT. 297 

CHAPTER LXXXIY. 
Impeachment. 

1. In the second article, section four, of the Consti- 
tution, these words are found: " The President, Vice- 
President, and all civil officers of the United States, 
shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and 
conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes 
and misdemeanors." 

2. Impeachment is a procedure against office holders 
only, for the purpose of removing them from office. 
It inflicts no other punishment ; but the guilty party 
may afterwards be prosecuted for his crime in a court 
of law, and punished in such a manner as the law 
directs. 

3. The Constitution gives the House of Represen- 
tatives the sole power of impeachment. Its action, 
however, is not final. Its proceeding in cases of im- 
peachment are analagous to an indictment by a grand 
jury. 

It simply charges that the official has committed a 
crime for which he should be tried and removed from 
office if found guilty. 

4. The Senate alone has the power to try the ac- 
cused party. When trying a case of impeachment it 
acts as a court, and from its decision there is no ap- 
peal. The President cannot pardon a criminal wl o 
has been impeached. When the President of the 
United States is tried, the Chief Justice of the Su- 
preme Court presides, but in no other case. No per- 
son can be convicted in a trial of impeachment, unless 
two-thirds of the Senate concur in finding the ac- 
cused guilty of the alleged offence. 



298 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER LXXXV. 
Missouri Compromise. 

1. "We should not devote a chapter to this subject 
any more than we should to hundreds of other acts of 
Congress which need not be noticed in a work of this 
kind, but for the fact that lew if any acts passed by 
that body have caused so many comments or so much 
political discussion as this. It may therefore be both 
interesting and useful to state what the Missouri Com- 
promise was, what its objects were, and how it came to 
be repealed. 

2. The act containing what has long been denomi- 
nated the Missouri Compromise was passed on the 6th 
day of March, 1820. The object of the act was the 
admission of the State of Missouri into the Union. 
The Compromise inserted in one of its sections was 
proposed by Henry Clay, of Kentucky, and was de- 
signed to reconcile a high dispute between the Mem- 
bers of Congress on the question, " Shall Missouri be 
admitted as a free or a slave State?" 

3. It was admitted as a slave State, but upon the 
condition (proviso) that in none of the Territory of the 
United States lying north of the line of 36 degrees and 
30 minutes, north latitude, should slavery ever be al- 
lowed. This proviso was denominated a Compromise; 
because it was designed to settle the vexed question 
as to how far northward slavery should be allowed to 
extend. 



MISSOURI COMPROMISE. 299 

4- It was called the " Missouri Compromise/' simply 
because it was incorporated in the act of Congress 
which admitted that State into the Union. It remained 
in existence until the year 1854, thirty-four years. Dur- 
ing all that period it was looked upon as a permanent 
settlement of the boundary line between free and slave 
territory. 

The repeal of this act was strongly opposed by those 
who objected to the extension of slavery. It caused a 
great deal of political excitement, and was immediately 
followed by the troubles in Kansas, where the contest 
between those who wanted the State to come in free, 
and those who wanted it to be a slave State, ran so 
high as to cause not only great political commotion, 
but even bloodshed and civil war between the contes- 
tants in that then new Territory. Kansas remained a 
Territory until January, 1861, when it was admitted as 
a State. 

5. As stated in the commencement of this article, 
no act of Congress ever caused so much political discus- 
sion as this. It was passed to quiet a contest that 
shook the whole country ; and when it was repealed, 
it created another of still greater magnitude. The 
Kansas imbroglio followed hard after ; and the late 
disastrous civil war came soon enough to lead many 
wise men into the opinion that it had much to do in 
bringing on that terrible calamity. 



300 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER LXXXYI. 
Mason and Dixon's Line. 

1. Should any reader say that this is not pertinent to 
the subject treated of in this work, he would not be 
far out of the way ; for, strictly speaking, it has noth- 
ing to do with it. But the phrase " Mason and Dix- 
on's line," has been used in connection with the polit- 
ical sayings and doings of the country so often that it 
would be very natural for any one to ask, " What is 
it?" and "What is meant by it?" To answer the 
question, we reply as follows: Mason and Dixon's line is 
not a myth nor an imaginary line, with no particular 
location. It was a real line, and a boundary line, lo- 
cated between Maryland and Pennsylvania ; between 
which two colonies there had been much contention 
and many hostile acts, amounting at times almost to a 
civil war. This arose from a dispute respecting the 
boundary lines between them. Maryland had been 
granted to Lord Baltimore, and Pennsylvania to Wil- 
liam Penn. 

2. This was long before the Revolutionary war. But 
the boundary line was not accurately defined. These 
disputes caused so much trouble between the contend- 
ing parties, that commissioners were appointed in 
England to make an accurate survey, and to determine, 
from the language used in the charters or grants, as 
they were called in that day, the exact boundary line 
between them. Messrs. Mason and Dixon were selec- 
ted in England to run this line; which they did. 
These men were eminent mathematicians and astron- 
omers, and had the confidence of all parties. They 
performed their work so much to the satisfaction of all 



MASON AND DIXON'S LINE. 301 

parties that the line drawn remains to this day. Thus 
was ended a long continued quarrel of more than sev- 
enty years' standing. 

3. But these facts did not give this line its great no- 
toriety. It arose from the circumstance that Pennsyl- 
vania and all the States north of it became free States, 
while Maryland and all the States south of it remained 
slave States. Mason and Dixon's line, without any in- 
tention of making it such, became the boundary between 
the free and slave States. 

The line run by these men went no further west 
than those States extended, and was a straight line 
running east and west. But as new States were created 
and added to the original thirteen, some utterly refused 
to admit slavery, while others did admit it. Ohio, Illi- 
nois and Indiana, on the north side of the Ohio river, 
refused to admit, while Kentucky eagerly embraced it. 
Hence the Ohio river became a sort of Mason and 
Dixon's line; that is, it became the line so far as these 
States were concerned. The phrase by this time came 
to mean the boundary line between slavey and freedom, 
instead of the line run by Mason and Dixon between 
Pennsylvania and Maryland. Thus, like many other 
terms in our language, it became far more comprehen- 
sive in its significance than in the original meaning. 
In the latter sense, Mason and Dixon's line ran where- 
ever the boundary lines ran between free and slave 
States, whether east and west, north and south, or any 
other points of the compass. But the late civil war 
sponged out this famous line. It has no existence 
now excepting that part of it which originally and at 
present forms the boundary between Pennsylvania and 
Maryland. 



302 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER LXXXVIL 
Political Divisions. 

1. "When we wish to understand the geography of 
our country, we take a map and notice its boundaries, 
its mountains, lakes, rivers, towns, &c. 

And if we wish to understand its government we 
must notice how it is divided for political purposes ; 
first, into States, and then into a variety of districts. 
We shall find Congressional districts, judicial districts, 
collection districts, land districts, and light-house dis- 
tricts. All these have their uses, and are parts of the 
machinery by which the government is operated. If 
it were not for the necessity there is of frequently 
changing the boundaries, numbers and localities of 
these districts, it would be useful and interesting if the 
United States were mapped out so as to show all these 
political divisions at a glance, in the same manner as 
the States and counties are now shown. 

2. The first great division is into States. These 
have particular reference to the constitution of the 
Senate and House of Representatives. Each State is 
entitled to two Senators, regardless of its size or pop- 
ulation ; and to as many Representatives as its popu- 
lation will admit. Each State is really a Senatorial 
district in its relations to the general government; and 
as Congressmen are elected by single districts, each 
State is sub-divided into as many Congressional dis- 
tricts as it has Representatives in the lower House. 
But when a State has only one Member of Congress, 



POLITICAL DIVISIONS. 303 

as is the case with several, the whole State is com- 
prised in one Congressional district. 

JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. 

3. We now come to another sort of districts, made 
for an entirely different purpose. For the conven- 
ience of the people the United States courts are held 
in every State, and at different places in the same 
State. For this purpose the whole country is first di- 
vided into judicial circuits. Several States — 3, 4, or 5 
— are embraced in one circuit. In all these States and 
at different places in them, a Circuit Court is held. 

4. Then comes a lower grade of courts, called the 
United States District Court. These also are held at 
different times and places in each State ; and for this 
purpose the whole country is divided into judicial dis- 
tricts, each State forming at least one, hut some of the 
larger ones, two or three. Thus much for divisions 
for judicial purposes. 

COLLECTION DISTRICTS. 

5. Another class of districts has heen formed, for 
the purpose of collecting the duties on imported 
goods. These are called " collection districts." They 
extend along, and embrace the whole sea coast and the 
shores of navigable lakes and rivers. In a few in- 
stances they are located inland, at points where goods 
may be brought into the United States by land. Each 
collection district has a port of entry, and very often 
several ports of delivery ; also a collector of customs, 
and generally a custom house. 

6. Auothcr class of collection districts was formed 



304 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

during the late civil war. They grew out of the war, 
and were established for the collection of the tax 
termed the "internal revenue," which had to be levied 
to pay the war expenses. These districts differ en- 
tirely., both in their objects and in the Territory em- 
braced within them, from those established for the pur- 
pose of collecting duties on imports, and correspond 
as far as practicable with the Congressional districts in 
each State. 

LAND DISTRICTS. 

7. Land districts may also be noticed among these 
divisions. In every State and Territory where there 
are public lands for sale, after they are surveyed and 
mapped, they are divided into districts — two, three or 
four, in each State and Territory — as convenience and 
economy may dictate. In each district a land office 
is established for the sale of the lands in said district. 

LIGHT HOUSE DISTRICTS. 

8. Again, the whole of our sea coasts, both on the 
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, together with the shores 
of the navigable lakes and rivers, are divided into 
twelve light house districts (or their number must not 
exceed that), for the purpose of building, repairing, il- 
luminating and superintending the light houses on all 
the coasts and shores wherever located. These are the 
principal divisions we have to notice. It is important 
to have a knowledge of them, for with such knowl- 
edge we can better understand how government affairs 
are conducted. 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 805 

CHAPTER LXXXVHL 
District of Columbia. 

1. The District of Columbia, in regard to its size, 
population, or political power, is one of the most in- 
significant places in the United States. It is not a 
State or Territory, but a small district ten miles 
square, originally cut out of the States of Maryland 
and Virginia and ceded to the United States as a site 
for the capitol. Here the capitol or house in which 
Congress meets is located, together with the Presi- 
dential mansion, and other public buildings occupied 
by the government. Its population has grown to the 
present size, about 80,000, since the year 1800, when 
it became the capital of the nation, and when Congress 
first assembled here, its former sessions having been 
held at JSTew York and Philadelphia. The city which 
has grown up around the capitol is named Washington, 
after the great and good father of his country. 

2. The people who live here occupy an anomalous 
position, for, with the exception of the political rights 
granted to them by Congress in their own local affairs, 
they have no political power whatsoever. They can- 
not vote for President or Vice President; they have no 
Representative in Congress, nor any voice in the en- 
actment of the laws by which they are governed, fur- 
ther than to make their own municipal regulations as 
granted to them in the charter which Congress gave to 
the city ; this they do through a mayor and common 



306 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

council. They are governed by Congress, which is 
their legislature, although they have no power to send 
a single member to represent them in it. 

3. Besides the courts of justice of the peace, there 
are four high courts, with their judges, and other law 
officers ; first a Circuit Court, second, a District Court, 
third, an Orphan's Court, and fourth, a Criminal Court; 
all these must be recognized as United States courts; be- 
cause they were established by the laws of Congress, 
and because their judges are all appointed by the Pres- 
ident and Senate, and are paid out of the United States 
Treasury. 

In saying that the District is ten miles square, and 
that it was ceded to the United States by Virginia and 
Maryland, we state what was the case up to 1846, when 
Congress re-ceded to the State of Virginia that part of 
it which formerly belonged to her. This part lies west 
of the Potomac river, and is of no use to the United 
States ; as the capitol, with all the other public build- 
ings, and, indeed, the whole city of Washington, stands 
on the east side of the river, and in the part formerly 
belonging to Maryland. 

The villages of Alexandria and Georgetown were both 
included in the District; but in 1846, Alexandria, 
which stands on the west side of the Potomac, was 
thrown out by the re-cession to Virginia. 

The capitol is one of the finest State houses in the 
world. It has been much enlarged, and has cost nearly 
$5,000,000. 



THE STATES. 307 



CHAPTER LXXXIX. 
States. 



1. As has been said in another place, people who 
live in the United States, live under two separate and 
distinct governments ; first, that of the United States, and 
second, that of the particular State in which they reside. 
This, at first thought, would seem to create confusion, if 
not a conflict , of authority, and to place the citizen in 
doubt as to what law he should obey when in his own 
mind there seems to be an antagonism between the 
laws of the two governments. This is easily overcome, 
however, for the Constitution of the United States, 
which is paramount to all other law, regulates this by 
its own provisions. Neither Congress, nor the legisla- 
ture of any State can make any law contrary to it; and 
if either of these legislative bodies should do so, there 
is a power which has the authority to set any such law 
aside ; and that is, the United States Supreme Court. 
Its decision in regard to any question which may arise 
as to the rightful authority of Congress, or any State 
legislature, is final ; there being no appeals from its de- 
cisions. 

This court is the regulating power and the final re- 
sort. To use a mechanical figure, it keeps all the 
small wheels (the State governments), revolving with- 
in one great wheel (the general government), with but 
little friction, and without any serious collisions. 

2. In the preceding pages we have treated only of 



308 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

the United States government, without any intention 
of explaining the State governments. We shall not now 
depart from that plan, but shall mention them only in 
general terms, as parts of the great whole, to shew 
what political power they possess, what they relin- 
quished to the general government, to what extent 
they are sovereign powers, and how they fall short of 
being complete sovereignties. 

3. The Constitution of the United States expressly 
declares that Congress shall have and exercise certain 
powers, and also that no State shall possess or exercise 
them. 

Congress has the exclusive power to lay duties on 
imported goods, to regulate commerce with foreign 
nations and with Indian tribes; to pass naturalization 
laws, to coin money, to establish post offices and post 
roads; to grant patents and copyrights; to declare war, 
and to do many other things which the States are pro- 
hibited from doing, for if invested with such powers 
there would be an immediate conflict of laws, and un- 
avoidable collision between the United States and the 
State governments. 

4. Now, when the several original States adopted 
the Constitution, they agreed to be governed by its 
provisions, and therefore conceded to Congress all the 
rights and powers therein specified; thus relinquishing 
all authority to exercise them themselves. And as the 
new States came into the Union, they did the same 
thing. Hence all the States voluntarily surrendered a 
part of the powers which belong to a sovereign State. 
Sovereignty implies full power to do any thing without 



THE STATES. 309 

the control of another. The United States government 
is a complete sovereignty. The States are not, because 
they agreed, for the general good of all, to surrender 
certain powers to the general government. 

5. In everything except these surrendered rights or 
powers, the States are sovereign. In all matters per- 
taining to their own domestic affairs, they enjoy full 
power to enact such laws as they please, taking care 
that no law, however, shall conflict with the Constitu- 
tion of the United States, or with any law which Con- 
gress has the exclusive right to enact. 

6. The States are the first, most important, and most 
permanent of all the political divisions of the country. 
They are now, in size, location, and territorial limits, 
just what they were when first formed; with one ex- 
ception, and that is Virginia. When that State sece- 
ded with most of the other Southern States, before the 
late civil war, the people in that part of the State lying 
west of the Alleghany mountains (nearly one half of 
it,) refused to leave the old Union, seceded from the 
old State and organized themselves into a new one, 
styling it West Virginia. This they could not do, how- 
ever, without the consent of Congress; but this was 
readily given, the division was consummated and a new 
State was carved out of an old one. This is the first, 
and thus far, the only instance in which this has been 
done. 

In the following chapter we give the several States 
in alphabetical order, making it easy to turn to them, 
and to find any desired information contained in the 
brief summary of facts relating to each. 



310 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER XC. 
Individual States. 




ALABAMA. 

Alabama, (so called from the Indian name of the 
principal river, which means " here- we-r est,") was ad- 
mitted into the Union of States, December 14, 1819, 
and made the twenty-second State. 

It has an area of 50,722 square miles, equal to 32,- 
462,080 acres, and had a population in 1860 of 964,201, 
by which she was entitled to six Representatives. 

It forms a part of the fifth judicial circuit, and is di- 
vided into three judicial districts, viz. : Northern, Mid- 
dle and Southern districts of Alabama. 

It has one port of entry, (Mobile,) and two ports of 
delivery, viz. : Tuscumbia and Selma. 

The capital of the State is Montgomery. 

The State election is held on the 1st Monday in Au- 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 311 

gust. The Legislature meets on the second Monday 
in November, but meets only once in two years. 

The enacting clause of its laws is as follows : "Be it 
enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the State of Alabama, in General Assembly con- 
vened." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Under this caption, after the general remarks upon 
each State, we shall give the names of all the men who 
have represented that State in the United States Sen- 
ate, from the commencement of the government (1789) 
down to the end of the year 1867, in chronological 
order, together with their terms of service. This af- 
fords a convenient means of reference to the prominent 
statesmen in each State, in days gone by. 

Those from Alabama were — 



William R. King, J 


from 


/ 1819 to 1844. 

\ 1846 " 1852. 


John W. Walker, 


a 


1819 " 1822. 


Henry Chambers, 


u 


1825 " 1826. 


Israel Pickens, 


a 


1826. Superseded 


the same year by — 






John McKinley, 


a 


/ 1826 " 1831. 
\ 1837 " 1841. 


Gabriel Moore, 


a 


1831 " 1837. 


Clement C. Clay, 


a 


1837 " 1841. 


Arthur P. Bagby, 


u 


1841 « 1849. 


Dixon II. Lewis, 


a 


1844 " 1847. 


Benjamin Fitzpatrick, 


a 


1852 « 1861. 


Jeremiah Clemens, 


u 


1849 " 1853. 


Clement C. Clay, Jr., 


u 


1853 " 1861. 


Willard Warner, 


a 


1868 " 1871. 


George E. Spencer, 


a 


1868 " 1873. 


[See Seceding States 


i, page 378.] 



312 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEENMENT. 



ARKANSAS. 

Arkansas was admitted into the Union, January 15, 
1836, (Michigan admitted the same day,) making the 
twenty-sixth State. 

She has an area of 52,198 square miles, equal to 
33,406,720 acres. 

Her population in 1860 was 435,450, which entitles 
her to three Representatives in Congress. 

Arkansas lies in the 8th judicial circuit, and forms 
two districts, Eastern and "Western. 

She has no ports of entry or delivery. 

This State was a part of the Louisiana purchase, 
made of France in 1803. 

The capital of the State is Little Rock. 

She holds her State election on the first Monday in 
August. 

The Legislature meets on the first Monday in No- 
vember, but only once in two years. 

The enacting clause of the laws is : " Be it enacted 
by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas." 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 313 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



William S. Fulton, 


from 


1836 to 1844. 


Ambrose H. Sevier, 


u 


1836 


" 1848. 


Chester Ashley, 


a 


1844 


" 184T. 


William K. Sebastian, 


it 


1848 


" 1861. 


Solon Borland, 


a 


1848 


" 1853. 


Robert W. Johnson", 


a 


1853 


" 1861. 


Charles B. Mitchell, 


a 


1861 


" 1861. 


Alexander McDonald, 


iC 


1868 


" 1871. 


Benjamin F. Rice, 


a 


1868 


" 1873. 


[See page 378.] 









CALIFORNIA. 

California was admitted in 1850, making the thirty- 
first State. It has an area of 188,982 square miles, equal 
to 120,948,480 acres. The population for 1860 was put 
down at 370,994 ; but this estimate was not regarded 
as reliable. Congress, by special act, allowed her three 
Representatives in Congress. 



314 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

By act of 1866, this State, with Oregon and Nevada, 
constitutes the ninth judicial circuit, and forms two ju- 
dicial districts. California has seven ports of entry, 
viz.: San Francisco, Monterey, San Diego, Sacra- 
mento, Sonoma, San Joaquin and San Pedro ; also, one 
port of delivery, Santa Barbara. This State, as seen 
by its area, is very large, and will probably in some 
future day be divided into two. California was ob- 
tained from Mexico by treaty, in 1848. 

The capital is Sacramento. She holds her State elec- 
tion on the first "Wednesday in September. Her Leg- 
islature meets on the first Monday in December, but 
meets only once in two years. 

The enacting clause of her laws is : " The people of 
the State of California, represented in Senate and As- 
sembly, do enact as follows." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

John C. Fremont, from 1850 to 1851. 



William M. Gwin, 


a 


1850 < 


' 1861 


John B. Weller, 


a 


1851 < 


< 1857. 


H. P. Haun, 


a 


1859 ' 


< 1862 


David C. Broderick, 


u 


1856 < 


< 1859 


Milton S. Latham, 


a 


1860 ' 


< 1866 


John Conness, 


u 


1863 < 


< 1869 


Cornelius Cole, 


« 


1867 < 


< 1873 


J. A. McDougall, 


a 


1861 ' 


< 1867 


Eugene Casserly, 


u 


1869 < 


< 1875 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 315 * 




CONNECTICUT. 

Connecticut is one of the original thirteen States. 
Her area is only 4,674 square miles, equal to 2,991,- 
360 acres. The population in 1860 was 460,147 ; this 
gives her four Representatives in Congress. 

Connecticut is part of the second judicial circuit, 
and fornas one judicial district. She has five collec- 
tion districts, and consequently live ports of entry — 
New London, New Haven, Fairfield, Middletown and 
Stonington ; also twenty-two ports of delivery. 

This State has two capitals, Hartford and New Ha 
ven, and holds her State election on the first Monday 
in April. The Legislature meets on the first Wednes- 
day in May. 

The enacting clause of her laws is: "Be it enacted 
by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General 
Assembly convened." 



S16 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



Oliver Ellsworth, 


from 


1789 to 1796. 


William S. Johnson, 


a 


1789 


" 1791. 


Roger Sherman, 


u 


1791 


" 1793. 


S. M. Michell, 


a 


1793 


" 1795. 


Jonathan Trumbull, 


a 


1795 


" 1796. 


Uriah Tracey, 


u 


1796 


" 1807. 


J. Hillhouse, 


a 


1796 


" 1810. 


C. Goodrich, 


u 


1807 


" 1813. 


S. W. Dana, 


a 


1810 


" 1821. 


David Doggett, 


u 


1813 


" 1819. 


James Lanman, 


u 


1819 


" 1825. 


E. Boarclman, 


a 


1821 


" 1823. 


H. W. Edwards, 


i. 


1823 


" 1827. 


Calvin Willey, 


u 


1825 


" 1831. 


Samuel A. Foot, 


a 


1827 


" 1833. 


G. Tomlinson, 


a 


1831 


" 1837. 


Nathan Smith, 


u 


1833 


" 1835. 


John M. Mies, 


a 


J 1835 
\1843 


" 1839. 
" 1849. 


Perry Smith, 


a 


1837 


" 1843. 


Thaddeus Betts, 


a 


1839 


" 1840. 


J. W. Huntington, 


a 


1840 


" 1847. 


R. S. Baldwin, 


a 


1847 


" 1851. 


Truman Smith, 


a 


1849 


" 1855. 


Isaac Toucey, 


u 


1852 


* 1857. 


Francis Gillette, 


« 


1854 


" 1856. 


L. S. Foster, 


u 


1855 


" 1867. 


James Dixon, 


u 


1857 


" 1869. 


Orris Ferry, 


a 


1867 


" 1873. 


"W. A. Buckingham, 


a 


1869 


" 1875. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



317 




DELAWARE. 



Delaware is one of the original thirteen States, and 
has an area of 2,120 square miles, equal to 1,356,800 
acres. Population in 1860, 112,216. 

It has one Representative in Congress ; forms part 
of the third judicial circuit, (act of 1862), constitutes 
one judicial district; has one port of entry, Wilming- 
ton; and three ports of delivery, New Castle, Port 
Penn, and Delaware City. 

The population of this State has never entitled it to 
more than one Member of Congress. 

The capital is Dover. The elections are held in 
November. The Legislature meets on the iirst Tues- 
day in January, and meets only once in two years. 

The enacting clause of the laws is: "Be it enacted 
by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
State of Delaware, in General Assembly met." 



318 



OUTLINES OF 


u. s. 


GOVERNMENT. 


UNITED STATES SENATORS. 


George Read, 


from 


1789 to 1793. 


R. Bassett, 


a 


1789 " 1793. 


John Vining, 


u 


1793 " 1798. 


Kensey Johns, 


a 


1794 " 1795. 


Henry Latimer, 


tt 


1795 " 1801. 


Joshua Clayton, 


a 


1798 " 1799. 


W. H. Wells, 


a 


J 1799 " 1804. 
\ 1813 " 1817. 


Samuel White, 


a 


1801 " 1810. 


J. A. Bayard, 


a 


1804 " 1813. 


0. Horsey, 


a 


1810 " 1821. 


K Van Dyke, 


a 


1817 " 1826. 


C. A. Rodney, 


a 


1822 " 1823. 


T. Clayton, 


iC 


/ 1824 " 1827. 

1 1837 " 1847. 


D. Rodney, 


a 


1826 " 1827. 


H. Ridgely, 


a 


1827 " 1829. 


L. McLane, 


tt 


1827 " 1829. 


J. M. Clayton, 


a 


J 1829 " 1837. 
1 1845 " 1849. 


A. Nordain, 


a 


1830 " 1836. 


R. H. Bayard, 


tt 


1836 " 1845. 


P. Spruance, 


a 


1847 " 1853. 


John Wales, 


a 


1849 M 1851. 


J. A. Bayard, 


a 


L851 " 1864. 


M. W. Bates, 


a 


1857 " 1859. 


J. P. Comeygs, 


a 


1856 " 1857. 


W. Salisbury, 


a 


1859 ft 1871. 


G. R. Riddle, 


a 


1864 " 1867. 


J. A. Bayard, 


a 


1867 " 1869. 


Thomas F. Bayard, 


a 


1869 " 1875. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



319 




FLORIDA. 



Florida was admitted into the Union, March 3, 1845 ; 
making the twenty-seventh State. This State has an 
area of 59,268 square miles, equal to 37,931,520 acres. 
The population in 1860 amounted to 140,425, which 
gave her but one Representative in Congress. 

Florida lie3 in the 5th judicial circuit, and forms two 
judicial districts; and has seven ports of entry — St. 
Augustine, Key "West, Apalachicola, Pensacola, Mag- 
nolia, St. John's River, and Fernandiua; and two 
ports of delivery — Palatka and Bay Port. This State 
was bought by the United States, of Spain in 1819. 

The capital is Tallahasse. The State election is held 
the first Monday in October. The Legislature meets 
biennially on the first Monday in November. 

The enacting clause of the laws is : "Be it enacted 
by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
State of Florida, in General Assembly convened." 



320 



OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



David L. Yulee, 


from 


1845 to 1861 


J. D. Wescott, 


a 


1845 " 1851 


Jackson Morton, 


u 


1849 " 1855 


S. E. Mallory, 


a 


1851 « 1861 


A. S. Welch, 


u 


1868 " 1869 


Thomas W. Osborn, 


a 


1868 " 18T3 


Abijah Gilbert, 


a 


1869 " 1875 


[See page 378.] 








GEORGIA. 

Georgia is one of the thirteen original States, and 
has an area of 52,009 square miles, equal to 33,285,760 
acres. She was named after George IE. 

The population in 1860, was 1,057,286, which enti- 
tled her to seven Representatives in Congress. 

The State lies in the fifth judicial circuit, and has 
two judicial districts; also four ports of entry — Sa- 
vannah, Brunswick, St. Mary's and Hardwicke; and 
two ports of delivery — Augusta and Sunbury. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



321 



The capital is Milledgeville. The State election is 
held on the first Wednesday of October. The Legis- 
lature meets on the first Thursday in November. 

The enacting clause of her laws is : " Be it enacted 
by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
State of Georgia in General Assembly met ; and it is 
hereby enacted by the authority of the same." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



William Few, 


from 


1789 to 1793. 


James Gunn, 


a 


1789 ' 


4 1801. 


James Jackson, 


a 


(1793 < 
\ 1801 < 


4 1795. 
< 1806. 


George Walton, 


a 


1795 < 


4 1796. 


Josiah Tatnall, 


a 


1796 < 


< 1799. 


A. Baldwin, 


a 


f 1796 < 

1 1805 < 


< 1805. 
* 1807. 


J. Melledge, 


u 


1806 < 


< 1809. 


George Jones, 


a 


1807 < 


< 1807. 


W. H. Crawford, 


a 


1807 < 


< 1813. 


Charles Tait, 


a 


/ 1809 < 
\ 1813 < 


4 1813. 
4 1819. 


W. B. Bullock, 


a 


1813 < 


< 1813. 


Wm. W. Bibb, 


a 


1813 < 


< 1816. 


G. M. Troup, 


a 


/ 1815 < 

1 1829 < 


< 1818. 

< 1833. 


John Forsyth, 


a 


j 1819 < 
\ 1829 ' 


< 1819. 

< 1837. 


F. Walker, 


a 


1819 < 


< 1821. 


John Elliot, 


a 


1819 < 


' 1821. 


Nicholas Ware, 


u 


1821 ■ 


< 1823. 


T. W. Cobb, 


a 


1824 < 


4 1828. 


0. H. Prince, 


u 


1828 < 


< 1829. 


John P. King, 


a 


1833 < 


' 1837. 


W. Lumpkin, 


« 


1837 < 


< 1841. 


J. M. Berrien, 
11 


a 


f 1825 k 
\1841 < 


< 1829. 
1 1851. 



322 



OUTLINES 0] 


? U. S. GOVE 


RNMENT. 


A. Cuthbert, 


from 


1837 to 1843. 


"W. T. Colquitt, 


a 


1843 " 1849. 


H. V. Johnson, 


a 


1848 " 1849. 


W. C. Dawson, 


it 


1849 " 1855. 


Bobert Toombs, 


a 


1853 « 1861. 


E. M. Charleton, 


a 


1852 " 1853. 


Alfred Iverson, 


a 


1855 " 1861. 



Senators were elected in 1868, but, up to March 1st, 
1870, they were not admitted. [See p. 378.] 




ILLESTOIS. 
This State came into the Union on the third day of 
Dec, 1818, making the twenty-first State. It was 
carved out of what was then known as the Northwes- 
tern Territory. Illinois has an area of 55,405 square 
miles, equal to 35,459,200 acres; had a population in 
1860 of 1,711,951; is entitled to fourteen Representa- 
tives in Congress, forms a part of the seventh judicial 
circuit. Forms two judicial districts, — Northern and 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 323 

Southern — has one port of entry, viz. : Chicago ; and 
four ports of delivery, viz. : Alton, Quincy, Cairo and 
Peoria. 

The capital is at Springfield. The State election is 
held on the first Tuesday in November. The Legislature 
meets biennially on the second Monday in January. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows: "Be it 
enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represen- 
ted in the General Assembly." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

J. S. Thomas, from 

K Edwards, " 

John McLean, " 

D. J. Baker, " 

E. K. Kane, " 
J. M. Robinson, " 
W. L. D. Ewing, " 
R. M. Young, " 
S. MeRoberts, " 
J. Semple, " 
Sidney Breeze, " 
S. A. Douglas, " 
James Shields, " 
L. Trumbull, " 
O. H. Browning, " 
"W. A. Richardson, " 
Richard Yates, " 



1818 to 1829. 


1818 


u 


1824. 


1824 


a 


1825. 


1829 


a 


1830. 


1830 1 month 


1825 


a 


1836. 


1880 


a 


1841. 


1835 


a 


1837. 


1837 


a 


1843. 


1841 


a 


1843. 


1843 


a 


1847. 


1843 


a 


1849. 


1847 


a 


1861. 


1849 


a 


1855. 


1855 


a 


1873. 


1861 


a 


1863. 


1863 


a 


1865. 


1865 


a 


1871. 



324 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 




INDIANA. 

The State of Indiana was formed out of part of what 
was called the Northwestern Territory ; was admitted 
as a State Dec. 11, 1816, making the nineteenth State. 
She has an area of 33,809 square miles, equal to 21,- 
637,760 acres. Her population in 1860 was 1,350,428, 
which entitled her to eleven Representatives in Con- 
gress. Indiana is the seventh judicial circuit, and 
forms one judicial district. There is no port of entry 
in this State ; but there are three ports of delivery, to- 
wit : Evansville, New Albany, and Madison ; which 
are attached to the New Orleans collection district. 

The capital is Indianapolis. The State election is 
held on the second Tuesday of October. The Legisla- 
ture meets only once in two years, on the first "Wednes- 
day of January. 

The enacting clause of her laws is in these words: 
"Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State 
of Indiana." 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



325 



UNITED STATES SEI 


JATORS. 


James Noble, 


from 


1816 to 1831. 


W. Taylor, 


a 


1816 " 1825. 


W. Hendricks, 


a 


1825 " 1837. 


R. Hanna, 


it 


1831 " 1831. 


John Tipton, 


a 


1831 " 1839. 


0. H. Smith, 


tt 


1837 " 1843. 


A. S. White, 


it 


1839 " 1845. 


E. A. Hannegan, 


a 


1843 " 1849. 


J. D. Bright, 


a 


1845 " 1862. 


J. Whitcomb, 


it 


1849 u 1855. 


C. W. Cathcart, 


a 


1852 " 1853. 


John Pettit, 


a 


1853 " 1855. 


G. K Fitch, 


a 


1857 " 1861. 


H. A. Lane, 


a 


1861 " 1867. 


D. Turpee, 


a 


1863 " 1863. 


J. A. "Wright, 


a 


1862 " 1863. 


T. A. Hendricks, 


a 


« 1869. 


0. P. Morton, 


u 


1867 " 1873. 


Daniel D. Pratt, 


it 


1869 " 1875. 




IOWA. 

Iowa was admitted into the Union March 3, 1845, 



326 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

making the twenty-eighth State. We have numbered 
this the twenty-eighth State, and Florida the twenty- 
ninth. Both, however, were admitted on the same 
day, and by one act. Iowa has an area of 55,045 square 
miles, equal to 35,228,800 acres. The population in 
1860 was 674,913, which entitled her to six Represen- 
tatives in Congress. This State lies in the eighth judi- 
cial circuit, and makes one judicial district. She has 
no port of entry, but has three ports of delivery, to 
wit: Burlington, Keokuk, and Dubuque; all of which 
are attached to the collection district of ISTew Orleans, 
in the State of Louisiana. 

Des Moines is the capital. The State election is held 
on the second Tuesday of October. The Legislature 
meets biennially on the second Wednesday in Jan- 
uary. 

The enacting clause of her laws is in these words : 
" Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State 
of Iowa." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

George W. Jones, from 1848 to 1859. 
Augustus C. Dodge, " 1848 " 1855. 

James Harlan, " 1 ^~ u -^g' 

James W. Grimes, " 1859 " 1869.' 

Samuel J. Kirkwood, " 1866 " 1867. 

James B. Howell, " 1870 " 1871. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 327 




KANSAS. 

Kansas was admitted into the Union as a State, Jan. 
29, 1861, making the thirty-fourth State. Kansas has 
an area of 78,418 square miles, equal to 50,187,520 
acres. The population in 1860 was 107,206 ; entitling 
her to one Representative in Congress. This State is 
in the eighth judicial circuit, and forms one judicial 
district. It has no ports of entry or delivery. 

Topeka is the capital. The State election is held on 
the first Tuesday in November. The Legislature meets 
on the second Thursday in January. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be 
it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

James Henry Lane, from 1861 to 1866. 
Samuel C. Pomcroy, " 1861 " 1873. 

E. G. Ross, " 1866 " 1871. 



328 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 




KENTUCKY. 

Kentucky was admitted into the Union on the first 
of June, 1792, and has an area of 37,680 square miles, 
equal to 24,115,200 acres. 

The population in 1860 numbered 1,155,684. The 
State has now nine Representatives in Congress ; is in 
the sixth judicial circuit, by an act of 1866 ; forms one 
judicial district; has one port of entry, Louisville; and 
two ports of delivery, Paducah and Columbus. 

Before Kentucky was erected into a State, it formed 
a part of the State of Virginia. 

It was the second State admitted, making the 
fifteenth State. Frankfort is the capital. 

The State elections are held on the first Monday of 
August. The Legislature meets on the first Monday 
in December. 

The enacting clause of the laws is in the following 
words: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of 
the Commonwealth of Kentucky." 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



329 



UNITED STATES 

John Brown, from 

John Edwards, " 

Humphrey Marshall, " 
John Br ecken ridge, " 
Buckner Thurston, 
John Adair, 



u 



Henry Clay, 

John Pope, 

George M. Bibb 

Jesse Bledsoe, 
George Walker, 
William T. Barry, 

Isham Talbot, 

Martin D. Hardin 

John J. Crittenden, 



a 

u 
a 

tt 

u 
a 

a 

a 

a 



Richard M. Johnson, " 

William Logan, " 

John Rowan, " 

James T. Moorehead, " 
Jos'h R. Underwood, " 
Thomas Metcalf, 
Archibald Dixon, 
David Meriwether, 
J. B. Thompson, 
Lazarus W. Powell. 
J. C. Breckinridge, 
Garrett Davis, 
James Guthrie, 
Thos. C. McCrcery, 



SENATORS. 

1792 
1792 
1795 
1801 
1805 
1805 
1806 
1810 
1831 
1849 
1807 
/1811 
\1829 
1813 
1814 
1814 
(1815 
\1820 
1816 
f!817 
1835 
1842 
1855 
1819 
1823 
1819 
1826 
1841 
1847 
1848 
1852 
1852 
1853 
1859 
1861 
1861 
1865 
1868 



1805. 
1795. 
1801. 
1805. 
1810. 
1806. 
1807. 
1811. 
1842. 
1855. 
1813. 
1814. 
1835. 
1815. 
1814. 
1816. 
1819. 
1825. 
1817. 
1819. 
1841. 
1849. 
1861. 
1823. 
1829. 
1820. 
1831. 
1847. 
1853. 
1849. 
1855. 
1852. 
1859. 
1865. 
1861. 
1873. 
1868. 
1871. 



330 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 




LOUISIANA. 

Louisiana was formed out of a part of the Louis- 
iana purchase, made of France in 1803, and was ad- 
mitted into the Union April 8th, 1812, making the 
eighteenth State. 

She has an area of 46,431 square miles, equal to 29,- 
715,840 acres. The population in 1860 numbered 708,- 
002 ; entitling her to five Representatives in Congress. 

Louisiana forms a part of the fifth judicial circuit, 
and constitutes two judicial districts, viz. : the eastern 
and western districts of Louisiana. This State has 
one collection district, denominated the district of 
New Orleans ; which city is the only port of entry. 
The shores of the river Ohio, and all the rivers emp- 
tying into the Mississippi, are attached to the district 
of New Orleans, though most of them do not lie in the 
State. Several of the cities and towns on these rivers are 
made ports of delivery. Collection districts are not 
always confined to one State. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



331 



Baton Rouge is the capital. The Legislature meets 
on the third Monday in January, once in two years. 
The State election is held on the first Monday in No- 
vember. 

The enacting clause of her laws is as follows : " Be 
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the State of Louisiana, in General Assembly con- 
vened." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



Thomas Posey, October to 

James Brown, from 

Allan B. Macgruder, 
Eligius Fromentin, 
W. C. C. Claiborne, 

Henry Johnson, 

¥m. Kelly, 
Dominique Bouligny, 
Josiah S. Johnston, 
Edward Livingston, 
Geo. A. Waggaman, 
Alexander Porter 
Robert C. Nichols, 
Alexander Morton, 
Alexander Barrow, 
Charles M. Conrad, 

Pierre Soule, 

Solomon "W. Downs, 
John Slidell, 
Judah P. Benjamin, 
John S. Harris, " 

"Wm. Pitt Kellogg, " 
[See page 378.] 



December, 

(1812 

\1819 

1812 

1813 

1817 

J 1818 

\1843 

1822 

1824 

1824 

1829 

1831 

1833 

1833 

1838 

1841 

1842 

/ 1847 

1 1849 

1847 

1853 

1853 

1868 

18G8 



1812. 
1817. 

1824. 
1813. 
1819. 
1818. 
1824. 
1849. 
1825. 
1829. 
1833. 
1831. 
1835. 
1837. 
1841. 
1842. 
1847. 
1843. 
1847. 
1855. 
1853. 
1861. 
1861. 
1871. 
1873. 



332 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 




MAINE. 

Maine was admitted into the Union on the 15th day 
of March, 1820, making the twenty-third State. She 
has an area of 31,766 square miles, equal to 20,330,- 
240 acres. In 1860 the population amounted to 628,- 
279, in view of which she is now entitled to five Rep- 
resentatives in Congress. Maine forms a part of the 
first judicial circuit, and constitutes one judicial district. 
This State has thirteen ports of entry, and thirty-two 
ports of delivery. Until it was admitted into the 
Union, it formed a part of the State of Massachusetts. 

Augusta is the capital. The State elections are held 
on the second Monday of September. The Legisla- 
ture meets on the first Wednesday of January. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be 
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
in Legislature assembled." 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



333 



UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



John Holmes, 
John Chandler, 
Albion P. Parris, 
Peleg Sprague, 
Ether Shepley, 
John Ruggles, 
Judah Dana, 
Eeuel Williams, 
George Evans, 
John Fairfield, 
"Wynan B. S. Moore, 
Jas. W. Bradbury, 

Hannibal Hamlin, ° 

Amos Nourse, " 

¥m. P. Fessenden, " 

Lot M. Morrill, » 
Nathan A. Farwell, " 



from 1820 to 1833. 



1820 

1827 

1829 

1833 

1835 

1836 

1837 

1841 

1843 

1848 

1847 

(1848 

< 1857 

(1869 

1857 

/1853 

\1865 

1861 

1864 



1829. 
1829. 
1835. 
1836. 
1841. 
1837. 
1843. 
1847. 
1847. 
1848. 
1853. 
1857. 
1861. 
1875. 
1857. 
1864. 
1869. 
1871. 
1865. 




MARYLAND. 

Maryland is one of the original thirteen States, and 



334 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

has an area of 11,124 square miles, equal to 7,119,360 
acres. The population in 1860 was 687,049, which 
gives her five Representatives in Congress. By an act 
of Congress, passed in 1866, this State was put in the 
fourth judicial circuit, which is composed of Mary- 
land, Virginia, "West Virginia, North and South Caro- 
lina. Maryland constitutes one judicial district ; has 
ten ports of entry, viz. : Baltimore, Chester, Oxford, 
Vienna, Snow-Hill, Annapolis, Nottingham, St. Mary's, 
Georgetown, and Havre de Grace ; and twelve ports 
of delivery. 

Annapolis is the capital. The State election is held 
on the first Tuesday of November. The Legislature 
meets on the first "Wednesday of January. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be 
it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



v^u lines v^arruii, i 
(of Carrollton) / 


from 


1789 to 1793. 


John Henry, 


a 


1789 " 1797. 


Richard Potts, 


a 


1793 " 1796. 


John E. Howard, 


a 


1796 " 1803. 


James Lloyd, 


a 


1797 " 1800. 


"William Hinclman, 


a 


1800 " 1801. 


Robert Wright, 


u 


1801 " 1806. 


Samuel Smith, 


u 


/ 1803 " 1815. 
\ 1822 " 1833. 


Philip Reed, 


a 


1806 " 1813. 


R. H. Goldsborough, 


a 


J1813 " 1819. 
\ 1835 " 1836. 


Robert G. Harper, 


a 


1816 " 1816. 


Alexander C. Hanson 




1816 " 1819. 


"William Pinkney, 


a 


1819 " 1822. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



335 



Edward Lloyd, 


from 


1819 to 1826. 


Ezekiel F. Chambers, 


a 


1826 " 1835. 


Joseph Kent, 


u 


1833 " 1838. 


John S. Spence, 


a 


1836 " 1841. 


"William D. Merrick, 


u 


1838 " 1845. 


John Leiclsker, 


a 


1841 " 1843. 


James A. Pearce, 


u 


1843 " 1862. 


Reverdy Johnson, 


u 


/ 1845 " 1851. 

\ 1863 " 1868. 


David Stuart, 


a 


1849 " 1850. 


Thomas G. Pratt, 


a 


1850 " 185T. 


Anthony Kennedy, 


u 


185T " 1863. 


Thomas PL Hicks, 


a 


1862 " 1864. 


John A. J. Cress well, 


a 


1865 " 1867. 


Philip F. Thomas, 


a 


" 1867. 


George Vickers, 


a 


1868 *< 1871. 


¥m. T. Hamilton, 


u 


1869 " 1875. 










MASSACHUSETTS. 
Massachusetts, the ".Bay State," as she is com- 
monly called, from the great bays indenting her east- 
ern shore, is one of the original thirteen States, and 



336 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

has an area of 7,800 square miles, equal to 4,992,000 
acres. 

Her population in 1860 amounted to 1,231,066, 
which entitles her to ten Members of Congress. 

Massachusetts lies in the first judicial circuit, which 
is composed of Massachusetts, Khode Island, 'New 
Hampshire and Maine — and forms one judicial dis- 
trict. 

There are now fourteen ports of entry in this State, 
and twenty-five ports of delivery. These have been 
so often changed, discontinued, or annexed to others, 
and will probably be hereafter, that we omit a list of 
them, and only remark that Boston is the principal 
one. 

Boston is the capital. The Legislature meets on the 
first Wednesday of January. The State election is 
held on the first Tuesday in November. 

The enacting clause of her laws is : " Be it enacted 
by the Senate and House of Representatives, in Gen- 
eral Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, 
as follows." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



Tristram Dalton, 


from 


1789 to 1791. 


Caleb Strong, 


a 


1789 " 1796. 


George Cabot, 


a 


1791 " 1796. 


Theo. Sedgewick, 


u 


1796 " 1799. 


Benj. Goodhue, 


u 


1796 « 1800. 


Samuel Dexter, 


a 


1799 « 1800. 


Dwight Foster, 


« 


1800 " 1803. 


Jonathan Mason, 


a 


1800 " 1803. 


John Q. Adams, 


a 


1803 " 1808. 


Timothy Pickering, 


a 


1803 " 1811. 


James Lloyd, 


a 


/1808 " 1813. 
1 1822 " 1826. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



337 



Joseph B. Varnum, from 


1811 to 1817. 


Christopher Gore, " 


1813 


" 1816. 


Eli P. Ashmun, " 


1816 


" 1818. 


Harrison Gray Otis, " 


1817 


" 1822. 


Prentiss Mellen, " 


1818 


" 1820. 


Elijah H. Mills, 


1820 


" 1827. 


Nathaniel Silsbee, " 


1826 


" 1835. 


Daniel Webster, " 


J 1827 
\1845 


« 1841. 

" 1850. 


Rufus Choate, " 


1841 


" 1845. 




f 1835 


" 1841. 


John Davis, " 


{ 1845 


" 1847. 




(1847 


" 1853. 


Isaac C. Bates, " 


1841 


" 1845. 


Robert C. Winthrop, " 


1850 


" 1851. 


Robert Rantoul, " 


1851 


" 1851. 


Charles Sumner, " 


1851 


" 1875. 


Edward Everett, " 


1853 


" 1854. 


Julius Rockwell, " 


1854 


" 1855. 


Henry Wilson, " 


1855 


« 1871. 






^T ^-fpLURIBUS UNUM7N 






MICHIGAN. 
The Territory of Michigan was changed into a State 



338 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



on the 15th clay of June, 1836, and as such was admit- 
ted to all the rights and privileges of the other States ; 
making the twenty-fifth State, (Arkansas was admitted 
on the same clay). Her area is 56,243 square miles 
equal to 35,995,520 acres. The population in 1860 was 
749,113 which entitled her to six Kepresentatives in 
Congress. By an act of 1866, Michigan was located 
in the sixth judicial circuit; and forms two judicial 
districts, and has four collection districts and four ports 
of entry, viz.: Detroit, Port Huron, Grand Haven, and 
Michilimackinac ; also live ports of delivery, (if the 
President deem them necessary). 

The capital is Lansing. The State election is held 
on the first Tuesday in November. The Legislature 
meets biennially on the first Wednesday of January. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows: "The 
people of the State of Michigan enact." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



Lucius Lyon, from 1836 to 1839 


John Norvall, ' 


< 1836 " 1841 


Augustus S. Porter, ' 


< 1839 " 1845 


Wm. Woodbridge, < 


< 1841 « 1847 


Lewis Cass, ' 


< 1845 " 1857 


Alpheus Fitch, ' 


6 1847 " 1853 


Thomas Fitzgerald, c 


< 1848 " 1849 


Charles E. Stewart, ' 


< 1853 " 1859 


Zachariah Chandler, ' 


< 1857 " 1875 


Kingsley S. Bingham ' 


< 1859 " 1861 


Jacob M. Howard, i 


< 1862 " 1871. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



339 




MINNESOTA. 

This State was admitted into the Union on the 11th 
day of May, 1858, and made the thirty-second State. 
It has an area of 83,531 square miles, equal to 53,459,- 
840 acres. The population in 1860 amounted to 172,- 
123. In 1862, an act was passed increasing the num- 
ber of Representatives in Congress from 233 to 241. 
This increase of eight members was given to the 
States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, 
Vermont, Rhode Island and Minnesota. By these 
means this State was allowed two Members of Con- 
gress. 

It lies in the eighth judicial circuit, which is com- 
posed of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas and Min- 
nesota. Minnesota forms one judicial district, and 
has no ports of entry or delivery. 

St. Paul is the capital. The Legislature meets an- 
nually on the first Tuesday in January. The State 
election is held on the first Tuesday in November. 



340 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 
UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



Henry M. Rice, 


from 


1857 to 1863 


James Shields, 


u 


1857" 1859 


Alex. Ramsey 


a 


1863 " 1869 


Daniel Norton, 


a 


1865 " 1871 


Mort. S. Wilkinson, 


a 


1859 « 1865 




MISSISSIPPI. 
The Territory of Mississippi became a State in 1817; 
making the twentieth State. The area is 47,156 square 
miles, equal to 30,179,840 acres. The population in 
1860 numbered 791,305 ; which entitled her to five 
Representatives in Congress. The State lies in the 
fifth judicial circuit, and is divided into two judicial dis- 
tricts, viz. : the Northern and Southern districts of Mis- 
sissippi. She has three ports of entry, viz. : Natchez, 
Vicksburg, and one near the mouth of Pearl river, to 
be established whenever the President may direct ; 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 341 

also three ports of delivery, viz. : Grand Gulf, Ship Is- 
land and Columbus. 

Jackson is the capital. The State election is held 
on the first Monday of October, and her Legislature 
meets bienn ally on the first Monday in January. 

The enacting clause of the laws is in these words : 
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represen- 
tatives of the State of Mississippi in General Assembly 
convened." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Walter Leake, from 1817 to 1820. 

Thomas H. Williams, " j ^ ," ^* 

David Holmes, " 1820 " 1825. 

Powhattan Ellis, " 1825 " 1833. 

Thomas B. Reed, " 1826 " 1829. 

Robert Adams, " 1830 " 1830. 

George Poindexter. " 1830 " 1835. 

John Black, " 1832 " 1838. 

R. J. Walker, " 1835 " 1845. 

James F. Trotter, " 1838 " 1838. 

John Henderson, " 1839 " 1845. 

Jesse Speight, " 1845 « 1847. 

Joseph W.^Chambers, " 1845 " 1847. 

T „ -n • « ■ J 1847 " 1851. 

Jeflerson Davis, " )is r 7"lSfl 

Henry S. Foote, " 1847 " 1853. 

John W. Rea, « 1851 " 1851. 

Walter Brooks, " 1852 " 1853. 

Albert G. Brown, « 1854 " 1851. 

Stephen Adams, " 1852 to 1857. 
[See page 378.] 



312 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



MISSOURI. 

' This State was formed out of a part of the Louisiana 
purchase, and was admitted in 1821 ; making the 
twenty-fourth State. Missouri is very large, and has 
an area of 67,380 square miles, equal to 43,123,200 
acres. Her population in 1860 amounted to 1,182,012, 
which entitles her now to nine Representatives in Con- 
gress. This State is a part of the eighth judicial cir- 
cuit, and formerly was one judicial district; but hy 
act of 1857 was divided into two, the Eastern and 
Western. It has no port of entry, and but one port 
of delivery, Hannibal. 

The capital is Jefferson City. The State election is 
held on the first Tuesday of November, and the Legis- 
lature meets on the last Monday of December. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be 
it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of 
Missouri, as follows." 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



343 



UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



Thomas II. Benton, 
David Barton, 
Alexander Buckner, 
Lewis F. Linn, 

David K. Atchison, 

Gratz B. Brown, 
Henry S. Geyer, 
Trusten Polk, 
James S. Green, 
"Waldo P. Johnson, 
John B. Henderson, 
Charles D. Drake, 
Carl Schurz, 



from 



1821 
1821 
1831 
1833 
J 1843 
\1849 
1863 
1851 
1857 
1856 
1861 
1862 
1867 
1869 



to 1851. 
1831. 
1833. 
1843. 

1849. 

1855. 
1867. 
1857. 
1861. 
1861. 
1862. 
1869. 
1873. 
1875. 




NEBRASKA. 

This State was admitted into the Union, February 
9, 1867, making the thirty-seventh State. It has an 
area of 122,007 square miles, equal to 78,084,480 acres. 



344 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEKNMENT. 

The population, when admitted, numbered over 12,000. 
It is entitled to one Member of Congress, is in the 
ninth judicial circuit, forms one judicial district, and 
has no ports of entry or delivery at this time. 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

John M. Thayer, from 1867 to 1871. 

Thomas "W. Tipton, « 1867 " 1875. 




NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

New Hampshire is one of the thirteen original 
States, and has an area of 9,280 square miles, which 
make 5,939,200 acres ; also a population, in 1860, of 
326,073, entitling her to three Members of Congress. 

New Hampshire lies in the first judicial circuit, com- 
posed of this State, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and 
Maine. It constitutes one judicial district. 

The whole State is embraced in one collection dis- 
trict — consequently there is but one port of entry in 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 345 

the State, at Portsmouth. There are also three ports 
of delivery, to-wit : New Castle, Dover and Exeter. 

The capital is Concord. Here the Legislature as- 
sembles on the first "Wednesday in June. The State 
election is held on the second Tuesday in March. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows: "Be 
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, 
in General Assembly convened." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Paine Wingate, 
John Langdon, 
Samuel Livermore, 
Simeon Olcott, 
James Sheafe, 
William Plummer, 
Nicholas Gilman, 
Nahum Parker, 
Charles Cutts, 
Jeremiah Mason, 
Thos. W. Thompson, 
David L. Morrill, 
Clement Storer, 
John F. Parrott, 
Samuel Bell, 

Levi Woodbury, 

Isaac Hill, 
Henry Hubbard, 
John Page, 
Franklin Pierce, 
Leonard Wilcox, 

Charles G. Atherson, 

Benning W. Jenness, 
Joseph Cilley, 



from 


1789 to 1793. 


a 


1789 " 1801. 


a 


1793 " 1801. 


a 


1801 " 1805. 


ti 


1801 " 1802. 


a 


1802 " 1807. 


a 


1805 « 1814. 


a 


1807 " 1810. 


a 


1810 " 1813. 


a 


1813 " 1817. 


a 


1814 " 1817. 


a 


1817 " 1823. 


a 


1817 " 1819. 


a 


1819 « 1825. 


a 


1823 " 1835. 


a 


/ 1825 " 1831. 
\ 1841 " 1845. 




a 


1831 " 1835. 


a 


1835 " 1841. 


.< 


1836 " 1837. 


a 


1837 " 1842. 


a 


1842 « 1842. 


a 


/1843 " 1849. 
\ 1852 « 1853. 




a 


1845 " 1840. 


a 


1846 " 1847. 



346 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



John P. Hale, 


from 


j 1847 to 1853 
\1855 "1865 


Moses ISToms, 


u 


1849 " 1855 


Jared W. Williams, 


a 


1853 " 1854 


John S. Wells, 


a 


1855 " 1855. 


James Bell, 


u 


1855 " 1857. 


Daniel Clark, 


u 


1857 " 1866. 


Aaron A. Cragin, 


u 


1867 " 1871. 


James W. Paterson, 


u 


1867 " 1873. 


George C. Fogg, 


it 


1866 " 1867. 




KEW: JERSEY. 

New Jersey is one of the original thirteen States, and 
has an area of 8,320 square miles, equal to 5,324,800 
acres. The population in 1860 numbered 672,035, 
which gives her now five Representatives in Congress. 
This State lies in the third judicial circuit, which is 
composed of this State and Pennsylvania, and forms 
one judicial district. There are six collection districts, 
and consequently six ports of entry in New Jersey, viz.: 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 347 

Perth Amboy, Burlington, Bridgeton, Great Egg Har- 
bor, Little Egg Harbor and Newark. There are 
also eight ports of delivery. A part of the eastern 
shore is attached to the port of New York. 

The capital of New Jersey is Trenton. The State 
election is held on the first Tuesday in November, and 
the Legislature assembles on the second Tuesday of 
January. 

The style of her laws, or the enacting clause thereof, 
is as follows: "Be it enacted by the Senate and Gen- 
eral Assembly of the State of New Jersey." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



Jonathan Elmer, 


from 


1789 to 1791, 


William Patterson, 


a 


1789 


" 1790, 


Philemon Dickerson, 


u 


1790 


" 1793, 


John Rutherford, 


tt 


1791 


" 1798, 


Fred'k Frelinghuysen, 


a 


1793 


" 1796, 


Richard Stockton, 


a 


1796 


" 1799, 


Franklin Davenport, 


a 


1798 


" 1799, 


James Schureman, 


u 


1799 


" 1801, 


Jonathan Dayton, 


a 


1799 


" 1805. 


Aaron Ogden, 


it 


1801 


" 1803. 


John Condit, 


tt 


1803 


" 1811. 


Aaron Kitchell, 


a 


1805 


" 1809. 


John Lambert, 


cc 


1809 


" 1815. 


Mahlon Dickerson, 


a 


1817 


" 1833. 


James J. Wilson, 


a 


1815 


" 1821. 


Samuel L. Southard, 


a 


/ 1821 
\ 1833 


" 1823. 
" 1841. 


Joseph Mcllvaine, 


cc 


1823 


" 1826. 


Thos. Frelinghuysen, 


CC 


1829 


" 1835. 


Epliriam Bateman, 


cc 


1826 


" 1829, 


Garret D. Wall, 


a 


1835 


« 1841. 


Jacob Miller, 


a 


1841 


" 1853. 



348 



OUTLINES OF U. 


S. GOVERNMENT. 




William L. Dayton, 


from 


1842 to 1851. 


John B. Thompson, 


a 


1853 ' 


' 1863 


William Pennington, 


a 


1858 ' 


' 1858 


"William Wright, 


a 


f 1853 < 
\ 1863 ' 


'1859 
'1866 


Eobert F. Stockton, 


a 


1851 ' 


< 1853 


John C. TenEyck, 


a 


1859 < 


'1865 


Eicharcl S. Field, 


u 


1862 ' 


' 1863 


James W. Wall, 


a 


1863 ' 


'1863 


John P. Stockton, 


a 


1865 ' 


'1866 


F. T. Frelinghuysen, 


u 


1867 < 


'1869 


Alexander GL Cattell, 


u 


1866 ' 


' 1871. 


John P. Stockton, 


a 


1869 ' 


' 1875. 




NEW YORK. 

Few York is one of the original thirteen States. 
Its area is 47,000 square miles, equal to 30,080,000 
acres. 

By the last census (1860) the population was ascer- 
tained to be 3,880,735— (4,000,000 in 1866)— which 
gives it thirty-one members of Congress. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 349 

It forms part of the second judicial circuit, which 
consists of New York, Vermont, Connecticut; and is 
divided into three judicial districts, the Northern, 
Southern and Eastern, (the Eastern was formed from 
the Southern, Feb. 26, 1865). 

This State has a great length of sea, lake and river 
coast, and consequently has eleven ports of entry, viz.: 
New York, Sag Harbor, Hudson, Oswego, Niagara, 
Buffalo Creek, Oswegatchie, Dunkirk, Rouse's Point, 
Cape Vincent and Suspension Bridge ; also fourteen 
ports of delivery ; besides which the President is au- 
thorized to make eight or nine others if he deems it 
necessary to do so. The ports of delivery are at such 
places on the Hudson river, on the Long Island shores, 
and along the shores of the river St. Lawrence, lakes 
Ontario, Champlain and Erie, as the trade of these lo- 
calities requires. Jersey City, in the State of New 
Jersey, is also attached to the collection district of 
New York. 

The capital of New York is Albany. The State 
elections are held on the first Tuesday in November, 
and the Legislature meets on the first Tuesday in 
January. 

The style of the laws, or the enacting clause, is as 
follows : " Be it enacted by the people of the State of 
New York represented in Senate and Assembly." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Philip Schuyler, from 1789 to 1701. 

RnfusKing, « {.gg « 8£ 

Aaron Burr, " 1791 " 1797. 



350 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

John Lawrence, from 1796 to 1800. 

John S. Hobart, " 1798 " 1798. 

"William North, " 1798 " 1798. 

James Watson, " 1798 Resigned. 

Govemeur Morris/ " 1800 " 1803. 

t t a u f 1800 " 1802. 

John Armstrong, " | lg03 « 1804> 

DeWitt Clinton, " 1802 " 1803. 

Theodore Bailey, « 1803 " 1804. 

Samuel L. Mitchell, " 1804 « 1809. 

John Smith, " 1804 " 1813. 

Obadiah German, " 1809 " 1815. 



Nathan Sanford, 



., J 1815 " 
\1825 " 



1821. 
1831. 



Martin Van Buren, " 1821 " 1829. 

Charles Dudley, " 1829 " 1833. 

William L. Marcy, " 1831 " 1833. 

Eath'1 P. Tallmadge, " 1833 " 1844. 

Silas Wright, « 1833 " 1844. 

Daniel S. Dickinson, " 1844 " 1851. 

Henry A. Foster, " 1844 " 1845. 

John A. Dix, " 1845 " 1849. 

William H. Seward, " 1849 " 1861. 

Hamilton Fish, " 1851 " 1857. 

Preston King, " 1857 " 1863. 

Ira Harris, l " 1861 " 1867. 

Edwin D. Morgan, " 1863 " 1869. 

Roscoe Conkling, " 1867 " 1873. 

Eeuben E. Fenton, " 1869 " 1875. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



351 




NORTH CAROLINA. 

This State is one of the original thirteen States, and 
has an area of 50,704 square miles, equal to 32,450,- 
560 acres, with a population of 992,622, (one third 
colored,) which entitles her to seven members of Con- 
gress. North Carolina, by act of 1866, was located in 
the fourth judicial circuit, which is composed of 
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina 
and South Carolina, and is divided into three judicial 
districts, called the districts of Albemarle, Pamlico, 
and Cape Fear. The collection districts, and the ports 
of entry and delivery in this State, have been so often 
modified and discontinued, that there is some uncer- 
tainty as to the number at this time. We can only 
make an approximate statement. There are, as near 
as we can determine, ten districts, ten ports of entry, 
and nine ports of delivery. 

Raleigh is the capital. There the Legislature moots 
biennially on the third Monday of November. The 



352 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

State election is held on the second Thursday in Au- 
gust. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows: "Be it 
enacted by the General Assemblyof the State of North 
Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of 
the same." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Samuel Johnson, 
Benjamin Hawkins, 
Alexander Martin, 
Timothy Bloodworth, 

Jesse Franklin, 

David Stone, 
James Turner, 
Nathaniel Macon, 
James Iredell, 
Montfort Stokes, 
John Branch, 
Bedford Brown, 

"Willie P. Mangum, 

Eobert Strange, 
William A. Graham, 
William H. Haywood, 
George E. Badger, 
Asa Biggs, 
David S. Reed, 
Thomas L. Clingman, 
Thomas Bragg, 
Joseph C. Abbott, 
John Pool, 

[See page 378.] 



ron 


i 1789 to 1793. 


£( 


1789 " 1795. 


U 


1793 " 1799. 


U 


1795 " 1801. 


a 


/ 1799 " 1805. 
\ 1807 " 1813. 




u 


1801 " 1813. 


u 


1805 « 1816. 


c( 


1815 " 1828. 


it 


1828 " 1831. 


u 


1816 " 1823. 


t. 


1823 " 1829. 


a 


1829 « 1840. 


a 


f 1840 " 1853. 
\ 1831 « 1836. 




a 


1836 " 1840. 


a 


1840 « 1843. 


u 


1843 " 1846. 


u 


1846 " 1855. 


« 


1854 " 1858. 


a 


1855 " 1859. 


u 


1858 " 1861. 


a 


1859 " 1861. 


u 


1868 " 1871. 


a 


1868 " 1873. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 353 



NEVADA. 

Nevada was admitted as a State, March 21st, 1864, 
making the thirty-sixth State in the Union. 

It has an area of 63,473 square miles, or 40,622,720 
acres. The population in 1860, while yet a Territory, 
was 6,857, but had greatly increased at the time of ad- 
mission. In conformity with the Constitutional pro- 
vision that every State shall have one Representative 
in Congress, Nevada has one. This State lies in the 
ninth judicial circuit, and forms one judicial district, 
called the district of Nevada. 

Virginia City is the capital. The State election is 
held on the first Tuesday in November ; and the Le- 
gislature meets on the first Monday in January. 

The enacting clause of the laws is in the following 
words : " The people of the State of Nevada, repre- 
sented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

James W. Nye, from 1865 to 1871. 

William M. Stewart, " 1865 k - 1875. 
12 



354 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 




OHIO. 

Ohio was admitted into the Union from what was 
then known as the Northwestern Territory, in 1802, 
and made the seventeenth State. 

It has an area of 39,964 square miles, equal to 25,- 
576,960 acres. The population in 1860 was 2,339,511, 
entitling it to nineteen Members of Congress. 

It is in the sixth judicial circuit, and forms two judi- 
cial districts, viz. : the Northern and Southern districts 
of Ohio. 

This State has three ports of entry, to wit: Cleve- 
land, Toledo, and Portland; and four ports of delivery, 
to be located where the President directs. 

The capital of this State is Columbus. The State 
election is now held on the second Tuesday of October. 
The Legislature meets on the first Monday of January, 
biennially. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : " Be 
it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of 
Ohio." 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 355 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



John Smith, 


from 


1803 to 1808. 


Thos. Worthington, 


a 


JT 1803 

\1810 


" 1807. 
" 1814. 


Edward Tiffin, 


a 


1807 


" 1809, 


Return J. Meigs, 


a 


1808 


" 1810. 


Stanley Griswold, 


a 


1809 


" 1809. 


Alexander Campbell, 


a 


1809 


" 1813. 


Jeremiah Morrow, 


a 


1813 


" 1819. 


Joseph Kerr, 


a 


1814 


" 1815. 


Benjamin Puggles, 


u 


1815 


" 1833. 


William A. Trimble, 


u 


1819 


" 1821. 


Ethan A. Brown, 


u 


1822 


" 1825. 


Wm. Henry Harrison, 




1825 


" 1828. 


Jacob Burnett, 


« 


1828 


" 1831. 


Thomas Ewing, 


it 


(1831 
\1850 


" 1837. 
" 1851. 


Thomas Morris, 


u 


1833 


" 1839. 


William Allen, 


a 


1837 


" 1849. 


Benjamin Tappan, 


a 


1839 


" 1845. 


Thomas Corwin, 


u 


1845 


" 1851. 


Salmon P. Chase, 


a 


1849 


" 1855. 


Benjamin F. Wade, 


a 


1851 


" 1869. 


George Ellis Pugh, 


a 


1851 


" 1861. 


John Sherman, 


a 


1861 


" 1873. 


Allen GL Thurman, 


a 


1869 


" 1875. 



356 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 




OREGON. 

Oregon was admitted into the Union as a State on 
the 14th day of February, 1859, and made the thirty- 
third State. It has an area of 95,274 square miles, 
equal to 60,975,360 acres. The population amounted 
in 1860 to 52,465, which did not reach the number re- 
quired to entitle it to a Member of Congress according 
to the fixed ratio. But every State is entitled to one 
member, whatever its population may be. By act of 
1866, the States of Oregon, Nevada and California 
were constituted the ninth judicial circuit. Oregon 
forms one judicial district, and has one collection dis- 
trict, and one port of entry. 

The capital is Salem, where her Legislature meets 
once in two years, on the second Tuesday of Septem- 
ber. The State election is held on the 1st Monday in 
June. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 357 

UNITED STATES SENATOR. 

Joseph Lane, from 1859 to 1861. 

Delazon Smith, " 1859 " 1860. 

Edward D. Baker, " 1861 " 1861. 

Benj. F. Harding, " 1862 " 

James W. Nesmith, " 1861 " 1867. 

Benjamin Stark, " 1861 " 1862. 

Geo. H. Williams, " 1865 " 1871. 

Henry W. Corbell, " 1867 " 1873. 




PENNSYLVANIA. 

Pennsylvania is one of the original thirteen States, 
and is often figuratively called the Keystone State, from 
the central position she occupied in the original num- 
ber of States. 

Its area in square miles is 46,000, equal to 29,440,- 
000 acres. The population in 1860 amounted to 2,- 
906,115, which entitles her to twenty-four Members of 
Congress. 



358 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Pennsylvania lies in the third judicial circuit, which 
is composed of this State and New Jersey. It forms 
two judicial districts, viz.: the Eastern and Western 
districts of Pennsylvania. 

There are two collection districts in Pennsylvania, 
and consequently two ports of entry, viz. : Philadelphia 
and Erie. 

Harrisburgh is the capital. There the Legislature 
assembles on the first Tuesday in January ; the State 
election is held on the second Tuesday in October. 

The enacting clause of her laws is : " Be it enacted 
by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly 
met ; and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the 
same." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



"William Maclay, 


from 


1789 to 1791 


Robert Morris, 


a 


1789 


" 1795 


Albert Gallatin, 


a 


1793 


" 1794 


James Ross, 


a 


1794 


" 1803 


William Bingham, 


u 


1795 


" 1801 


Peter Muhlenburgh, 


a 


1801 


" 1802 


Samuel Maclay, 


a 


1803 


" 1808 


Michael Leib, 


a 


1808 


" 1814 


Andrew Gregg, 


a 


1807 


" 1813 


Abner Lacock, 


u 


1813 


" 1819 


Jonathan Roberts, 


a 


1814 


" 1821 


Walter Lawrie, 


a 


1819 


« 1825 


William Findlay, 


a 


1821 


" 1827 


William Marks, 


u 


1825 


" 1831 


Isaac D. Barnard, 


a 


1827 


" 1831. 


George M. Dallas, 


u 


1831 


" 1833. 


William Wilkins, 


u 


1831 


" 1834. 


Samuel McKean, 


u 


1833 


" 1839. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 359 



James Buchanan 


from 


1834 to 1845. 


Daniel Sturgeon 


u 


1839 " 1851. 
(1845 " 1849. 


Simon Cameron, 


6i 


1 1857 " 1861. 
(1867 " 1873. 


James Cooper, 


a 


1849 " 1855. 


Charles R. Buckalew, 


u 


/ 1850 " 1856. 
\ 1863 " 1869. 


Richard Broadhead, 


a 


1851 " 1857. 


"William Bigler, 


a 


1855 " 1861. 


Edgar Cowan, 


a 


1861 " 1867. 


David "Wilmot, 


a 


1861 " 1863. 


John Scott, 


a 


1869 " 1875. 




RHODE ISLAND. 

Rhode Island is one of the original thirteen States, but 
had no delegates in the Convention which formed the 
Constitution of the United States. She and Delaware 
are the two little States, Rhode Island being the 
smallest State in the Union, having an area of only 



!60 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



1,306 square miles, which make 835,840 acres. Her 
population iu 1860 was 174,620, which entitled her to 
two Members of Congress. Rhode Island forms part 
of the first judicial circuit, which consists of the 
States of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, ~New Hamp- 
shire and Maine; constitutes one judicial district, 
called the district of Rhode Island, has three ports of 
entry, viz. : Newport, Providence and Bristol, and also 
seven ports of delivery. 

Small as this State is, it has two capitals or places 
where the Legislature meets, viz.: Newport and Provi- 
dence. The State election is held on the first Wednes- 
day in April. The Legislature meets twice in a year, 
in May and January. 

The style of her laws, or the enacting clause of them 
is as follows : " It is enacted by the General Assembly 
as follows." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



Theodore Foster, fr 


om 1790 to 1803. 


Joseph Stanton, ' 


1790 


" 1793. 


"William Bradford, c 


< 1793 


' 1797. 


Ray Green, ' 


< 1797 


" 1801. 


Charles Ellery, * 


< 1801 


■< 1805. 


Samuel L. Potter, ' 


1803 


i 1804. 


Benjamin Howland, ' 


< 1804 


" 1809. 


James Fenner, ' 


< 1805 


" 1807. 


Elisha Matthewson, ' 


< 1807 


< 1811. 


Frances Malbone, ' 


< 1809 


< 1809. 


C. G. Champlin, i 


< 1809 


< 1811, 


Jeremiah B. Howell, * 


1 1811 « 


< 1817. 


William Hunter, ' 


< 1811 


< 1831. 


James Burrill, ' 


1817 


1 1821. 


James D'Wolf, ' 


1821 ' 


< 1825. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 361 



Nehemiah E,. Knight, from 

Asher Bobbins, " 

Nathan F. Dixon, " 

James F. Simmons, " 

William Sprague, " 

John B Francis, " 

Albert C. Green, " 

John H. Clarke, " 

Charles T. James, " 

Philip Allen, " 

Henry B. Anthony, " 

William Sprague, " 

Samuel G. Arnold, " 



1321 


to 


1841. 


1825 


a 


1839. 


1839 


a 


1842. 


1841 


a 


1847. 


1857 


a 


1862. 


1842 


a 


1844. 


1844 


a 


1845. 


1845 


a 


1851. 


1847 


a 


1853. 


1851 


a 


1857. 


1853 


a 


1859. 


1859 


a 


1865. 


1865 


a 


1871. 


1862 


u 


1875. 


1862 


a 


1863. 




SOUTH CAROLINA. 

South Carolina is one of the original thirteen States, 
and has an area of 29,385 square miles, which make 
18,806,400 acres; with a population in 1860, of 703,- 



362 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

708, (over half colored), which gives her four Members 
of Congress. 

By an act of 1866, South Carolina was located in the 
fourth judicial circuit; it is divided into two judicial 
districts, called the Eastern and Western districts of 
South Carolina. 

There are three collection districts in this State, and 
four ports of entry, to-wit : Georgetown, Charleston, 
Beaufort and Port Royal ; but no ports of delivery. 

The capital is Columbia. The State elections are 
held on the fourth Monday of November. The Legis- 
lature meets on the third Wednesday of October. 

The enacting clause of the laws is as follows : "Be 
it enacted by the Honorable the Senate and House of 
Representatives, now met and sitting in General As- 
sembly, and by authority of the same." 

South Carolina made herself conspicuous by taking 
the lead in the recent rebellion against the United 
States government. She first seceded, and was the 
first to commence hostilities by firing on a government 
vessel in the harbor of Charleston, and then on Fort 
Sumter, one of the United States forts near the city. 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

TV o ., n ( 1790 to 1796. 

Pierce Butler, from < ^^ « i8Q4 

Ralph Izard, « 1789 " 1795*. 

Jacob Read, « 1795 " 1801. 

John Hunter, « 1796 " 1798. 

Charles Pinckney, " 1798 " 1801. 

Thomas Sumpter, " 1801 " 1810. 

John E. Calhoun, " 1801 " 1802. 

John Gaillard, " 1804 " 1802. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 



363 



John Taylor, 

"William Smith, 

"William Harper, 
Bobert J. Hayne, 
Stephen D. Miller, 

John C. Calhoun, 

William C. Preston, 
Daniel E. Huger, 
George McDuffie, 
Andrew P. Butler, 
Franklin H. Elmore, 
Robert W. Barnwell, 
William Desaussure, 
Josiah Evans, 
James H. Hammond, 
James Chestnut, 
Arthur P. Hayne, 
Thos. J. Robertson, 
Frederick A. Sawyer, " 
[See page 378.] 



ror 


a 1810 to 1816 


a 


j 1816 ' 
\ 1826 ' 


4 1823. 




4 1831 


a 


1826 ' 


'1826 


u 


1823 ' 


4 1832 


a 


1831 ' 


' 1833 


u 


( 1832 < 
\ 1845 ' 


'1842 




'1847 


a 


1833 < 


'1842 


u 


1842 < 


'1845 


a 


1842 ' 


'1846 


a 


1846' 


' 1857. 


a 


1850 < 


' 1850. 


a 


1850 < 


4 1853. 


a 


1852 < 


' 1853. 


a 


1852 ' 


' 1858. 


a 


1857 < 


' 1860. 


a 


1858 ' 


' 1861. 


a 


1858. 




u 


1868 ' 


'1871 


a 


1868 < 


'1873 



364 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 




TENNESSEE. 



Tennessee was admitted into the Union, June 1st, 
1796, and made the sixteenth State. Its area is 45,600 
square miles, equal to 29,184,000 acres. The population 
in 1860 numbered 1,109,801. It has now eight Rep- 
resentatives in Congress, is in the sixth judicial cir- 
cuit, forms three judicial districts, and has two ports 
of delivery, Memphis and Knoxville. Before Tennes- 
see was admitted it formed a part of North Carolina. 

Nashville is the capital. The State election is held 
on the first Thursday in August ; and on the first 
Monday of October the Legislature meets, once in two 

years. 

The enacting clause of the laws of this State is as 
follows : " Be it enacted by the General Assembly of 
the State of Tennessee." 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 365 



UNITED STATES SENATORS 

William Blount, 
William Cocke, 



ror 


n 1796 to 1797. 


a 


(1796 
1 1799 


" 1797. 




" 1805. 


a 


(1797 
\1823 


" 1798. 




" 1825. 


u 


1797 


" 1815. 


a 


1797 


" 1809. 


u 


1809 


f 1811. 



Andrew Jackson, 

Joseph Anderson, 
Daniel Smith, 
Jenkin Whiteside, 

Geo. W. Campbell, 1811 " 1818. 

Jesse Wharton, " 1814 " 1815. 

John Williams, " 1815 " 1823. 

John H. Eaton, " 1818 " 1829. 

Hugh L. White, " 1825 " 1840. 

Felix Grundy, « 1829 " 1840. 

Ephraim H. Foster, « {gig; 

A. O. P. Nicholson, " 1840 " 1843. 

Alexander Anderson, " 1840 " 1841. 

Spencer Jarnagin, " 1841 " 1847. 

Hopkins L. Turney, " 1845 " 1851. 

John Bell, " 1847 " 1853. 

James C. Jones, " 1851 " 1857. 

Andrew Johnson " 1857 " 1863. 

David T. Patterson, " 1865 " 1869. 

J. S. Fowler, « 1865 " 1871. 

Wm. G. Brownlow, " 1869 « 1875. 

[See page 378.1 



366 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 




TEXAS. 

The history of this State is unlike that of any other 
belonging to the Union. It is not one of the original 
States ; neither was it first formed into a territory and 
afterwards changed into a State. Down to 1836, Texas 
was a part of Mexico ; at that time the people of this 
Mexican province or colony revolted against the 
Mexican authority, and, after a short war with that 
power, gained their independence and established a 
government of their own. This they called the " Ke- 
public of Texas." But it was a small and feeble 
power, and could not sustain itself as an independent 
nation. In this helpless condition she applied to the 
United States government for permission to unite her- 
self with it. The request was listened to and favora- 
bly received by the United States. The proposition 
was accepted, and in 1845 Texas was admitted — mak- 
ing the twenty-eighth State — and became a part of the 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 367 

"Great Republic." Though larger than five such 
states as New York, she has continued to this day a 
single State, because her population has remained so 
small. But in the act of admission it was provided 
that Texas might be divided into four new States, be- 
sides that of Texas, making ^ve in all. "When this 
shall be done, all will be large States. The whole area 
of Texas is 237,504 square miles, which make 152,002,- 
560 acres. The population in 1860 — fifteen years after 
her admission — was only 604,215, which entitles her 
to four Members of Congress. Texas lies in the fifth 
judicial circuit, and makes two judicial districts, the 
eastern and western. 

There are three collection districts in this State. 
The respective ports of entry for these districts are 
Galveston, Lasalle and Brazos Santiago. To these are 
attached nine ports of delivery. 

The capital is Austin, where the Legislature meets 
biennially on the first Monday of November. The 
State election is held on the first Monday in August 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Thomas F. Rusk, 
Samuel Houston, 
Pinckney J. Henderson, 
Matthias Ward, 
John Hemphill, 
Lewis T. Wigfall, 
[See page 378.] 



om 1846 to 1856. 


' 1846 


" 1859. 


< 1857 


" 1858. 


' 1858 


" 1861. 


: < 1859 


" 1861. 


1859 


" 1861. 



368 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 




VERMONT. 

Vermont was admitted into the Union, March 4th, 
1791, making the fourteenth State. 

It has an area of 10,212 square miles, equal to 6,535,- 
680 acres. The population in 1860 numbered 315,098. 
It now has three Representatives in Congress ; forms 
part of the second judicial circuit; constitutes one ju- 
dicial district; has one port of entry, located at such 
place as may be named by the President, who may 
also designate two places in the State as ports of de- 
livery. 

Vermont was the first new State admitted into the 
Union, and thus made the fourteenth State. 

Montpelier is the capital. The State election is held 
on the first Tuesday in September, and the Legisla- 
ture meets on the second Thursday in October. 

The enacting clause of the laws is : "It is hereby 
enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ver- 
mont." 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. • 369 



UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Moses Robinson, 

Stephen R. Bradley, 

Elijah Paine, 

Isaac Tichenor, 

Nathaniel Chipman, 

Israel Smith, 

Jonathan Robinson, 

Dudley Chase, 

James Fisk, 
William A. Palmer, 
Horatio Seymour, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Benjamin Swift, 
Samuel S. Phelps, 
Samuel C. Crafts, 
"William Upham, 
Solomon Foote, 
Samuel S. Phelps, 
Brainard Lawrence, 
Jacob Coll am er, 
Luke P. Poland, 
George F. Edmunds 
Justin S. Morrill, 



from 


1791 to 1796. 


« 


/ 1791 " 1795. 
\ 1801 « 1813. 




a 


1795 " 1801. 


a 


/ 1796 " 1797. 
\ 1815 " 1821. 




a 


1797 " 1803. 


a 


/ 1801 « 1802. 
X 1803 « 1807. 




a 


1807 " 1815. 


a 


j 1813 « 1817. 
X 1825 " 1831. 




u 


1817 " 1817. 


a 


1818 " 1825. 


a 


1821 « 1833. 


a 


1831 " 1842. 


a 


1833 " 1839. 


a 


1839 " 1851. 


a 


1842 " 1843. 


a 


1843 " 1855. 


a 


1851 " 1866. 


a 


1853 " 1854. 


u 


1854 « 1855. 


a 


1854 " 1865. 


a 


1865 " 1867. 


a 


1866 " 1875. 


a 


1867 " 1873. 



370 OUTLINES OF IT. S. GOVERNMENT. 




VIRGINIA. 

Virginia is also one of the original thirteen States, 
and had an area previous to the division in 1862, 
of 61,352 square miles, equal to 39,265,280 acres; but 
after West Virginia was set off as a separate State, there 
were but 38,352 square miles left of this once great 
State, equal to 24,545,280 acres. 

The population in 1860 amounted to 1 ,596,318, which 
entitles the State to eleven Members of Congress. By 
the division the number of Representatives was cut 
down to eight ; the new State receiving three out of 
the eleven. 

Virginia lies in the fourth judicial circuit, which by 
the act of 1866 was composed of this State, Maryland, 
West Virginia, Korth Carolina and South Carolina. 
There were two judicial districts in this State, anterior 
to the division, the Eastern and the Western. There 
is now but one. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 371 

There were also twelve collection districts in this State, 
and twelve ports of entry, all of which remain the same 
as they were before West Virginia was cut off, for they 
were all located on the Atlantic coast, or on the bays 
and rivers running into the Atlantic Ocean ; there are 
also ten ports of delivery. 

Richmond is the capital. The State election is held 
on the fourth Thursday of May. The Legislature meets 
biennially on the second Monday of January. 

The enacting clause of the laws of Virginia is : " Be 
it enacted by the General Assembly.' ' 

When the United States government was formed, 
Virginia was the largest, most populous and influen- 
tial State in the Union. But after 1810 she fell behind 
New York in population ; and in 1860, she had fallen 
to the fifth position in this respect. The division has 
reduced her much below that point. 

This State is often called " the Old Dominion," be- 
cause it was first settled by whites after the discovery 
of America, an English colony being planted here in 
1607. 

" The Mother of Presidents," is another appellation 
often given to her, because four of the Presidents were 
Virginians, viz. : Washington, Jefferson, Madison and 
Monroe. She was also the birthplace of several others, 
viz. : Jackson, Harrison and Tyler. 

" The Old Dominion" is now divided into two States, 
Virginia and West Virginia. Her political power and 
influence have dwindled into insignificance. 



372 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 



"William Grayson, 


from 


1789 to 1790. 


Richard H. Lee, 


a 


1789 


a 


1792. 


John Walker, 


u 


1790 


a 


1790. 


James Monroe, 


a 


1790 


a 


1794. 






(1792 


a 


1794. 


John Taylor, 


a 


1 1803 


u 


1805. 






(1822 


u 


1824. 


Stephen T. Mason, 


a 


1794 


a 


1803. 


John Tazewell, 


a 


1794 


u 


1799. 


Wilson C. Nichols, 


a 


1799 


a 


1804. 


Abraham B. Yenable, 


a 


1803 


a 


1804. 


William B. Giles, 


a 


1804 


it 


1815. 


Andrew Moore, 


a 


1804 


u 


1809. 


Richard Brent, 


a 


1809 


a 


1815. 


James Barbour, 


a 


1815 


a 


1825. 


Armistead T. Mason, 


it 


1816 


a 


1817. 


John W. Eppes, 


a 


1817 


u 


1819. 


James Pleasant, 


a 


1819 


a 


1822. 


John Randolph, 


a 


1825 


it 


1827. 


Littleton W. Tazewell, 


a 


1824 


a 


1832. 


John Tyler, 


a 


1827 


a 


1836. 


William C. Rives, 


a 


(1832 
X 1836 




1834. 
1845. 


Benjamin W. Leigh, 


a 


1834 


it 


1836. 


Richard E. Parker, 


a 


1836 


a 


1837. 


William H. Roane, 


a 


1837 


it 


1841. 


William S. Archer, 


it 


1841 


a 


1847. 


Isaac S. Pennybacker, 


a 


1845 


u 


1847. 


James M. Mason, 


a 


1847 


u 


1861. 


R. M. T. Hunter, 


a 


1847 


it 


1861. 


John W. Johnston, 


u 


1870 


a 


1871. 


John F. Lewis, 


a 


1870 


a 


1875. 


[See page 378.] 











INDIVIDUAL STATES* 



373 




WEST VIRGINIA. 

There is a peculiarity in the description of this new 
State. It formed a part of one of the original thir- 
teen States, but is yet a new State, and was admitted 
fully in 1863. Although the act of Congress making 
it a State was passed on the 31st of December, 1862, 
it was with the proviso that it should not take effect 
until 60 days after a proclamation issued by the Presi- 
dent, giving notice to the world that West Virginia 
had been admitted as a sovereign State, and that it 
formed one of the United States of America. This 
proclamation was not issued until the year 1863, and 
in sixty days thereafter the law took effect, and West 
Virginia became a State, on an equal footing with all 
the other States. We have not the date of the procla- 
mation, and cannot, therefore, name the day when tho 
act went into full operation. 

This is the only case in which a State has boon divi- 



374 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

ded. The Constitution contains a provision for making 
such division, in case it should be desirable, and upon 
certain conditions, which were complied with in this 
case. As stated in another place, this event grew out 
of the late rebellion. Virginia seceded with others of 
the slave States ; but that part of the State lying west 
of the Alleghany mountains, consisting of forty-eight 
counties, refused to go with the eastern part, seceded 
from it, and set up a separate State government, which 
was then recognized by Congress, and admitted into 
the Union. Thus "West Virginia became a new State, 
made out of an old one. "When admitted, it made the 
thirty-fifth State. It has an area of 23,000 square 
miles, equal to 14,720,000 acres. 

The population, in 1860, was 349,628, which gives 
her three Members of Congress. West Virginia was 
subsequently put into the fourth judicial circuit, and 
constitutes one judicial district. Parkersburgh, also, 
was made a port of delivery. 

Wheeling is the capital. The State election is held 
on the fourth Thursday in October. The Legislature 
meets on the third Tuesday in January. 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Peter G. Van Winkle, from 1863 to 1869. 
Waitman T. Willey, " 1863 " 1871. 

Arthur Boerman, " 1869 " 1875. 



INDIVIDUAL STATES. 375 




WISCONSIN. 

Wisconsin was admitted as a State on the 29th of 
May, 1848, and made the thirtieth State. It has an 
area of 52,924 square miles, equal to 34,511,360 acres. 
In 1860 the population amounted to 775,881, which 
gave her six Members of Congress. Wisconsin lies in 
the seventh judicial circuit, (which is composed of Wis- 
consin, Indiana and Illinois,) and forms one judicial dis- 
trict. It has one collection district, one port of entry, 
(Milwaukee,) and five ports of delivery, viz. : South- 
port, Racine, Sheboygan, Green Bay and Depere. 

The capital of the State is Madison. The Legisla- 
ture meets on the second Wednesday in January. The 
State election is on the first Tuesday in November. 

The enacting clause of her laws is as follows : " The 
people of Wisconsin, represented in Senate and As- 
sembly, do enact as follows." 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Henry Dodge, from 1848 to 1857. 

Isaac P. Walker, " 1848 " 1855. 

Charles Durkee, " 1855 " 1861. 

James R. Doolittle, " 1857 « 1869. 

Timothy O. Howe, « 1861 " 1873. 

M. H. Carpenter, " J869 « 1875. 



376 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

t 

CHAPTER SCI. 
Names and Mottoes of the States. 

ALABAMA — So called from the Indian name of her principal 
river, meaning " here-we-rest." Has no familiar name. 

ARKANSAS — Called after the Indian name of her principal 
river. Has the familiar name of " Bear State." Her motto, Reg- 
nant Populi, means " the people rule." 

CALIFORNIA— Named from the great gulf on her coast, is called 
the " Golden State," and her Greek motto, Eureka, means " I have 
found it." 

CONNECTICUT — The "Nutmeg State/' is named from her 
principal river, which, in the Indian tongue, means "the long river. " 
Her Latin motto means, " He who has transferred, sustains." 

DELAWARE — Named in honor of Lord Delaware, is called the 
"Blue Hen." 
FLORIDA — Named from the profusion of flowers found there. 

GEORGIA — "Was named in honor of George II, King of Eng- 
land. 

ILLINOIS— The "Sucker" or " Prairie State," is named from 
her principal river. 

INDIANA— Has the familiar name of « Hoosier State." 

IOWA— Is the " Hawk-Eye State." 

KANSAS— Means " Smoky Water," and her Latin motto means 
" to the stars through difficulties." 

KENTUCKY— The " Blue-Grass State," bears the name of her 
principal river. 

LOUISIANA — Called in honor of Louis XIV, of France, is 
known as the " Creole State." 

MAINE — Named from a province in France, is called "the Pino 
Tree State." 

MARYLAND — Was named in honor of the wife of Charles I, 
King of England. Her Latin motto means " increase and multi- 
ply." 

MASSACHUSETTS— From the great bay on her coast, is called 
the " Bay State." Her Latin motto is translated, " With the sword 
he seeks placid rest in liberty." 

MICHIGAN — Named from the great lake on her northern and 
Western border, has for her familiar name " the Wolverine State." 



FAMILIAR NAMES OP THE STATES. 377 

Her Latin motto, Tuebor, means " I will defend." The other Latin 
words are translated, " If you seek a beautiful peninsula, look around 
you." 

MINNESOTA— Means " Whitish Water." Her French motto 
means " North Star." 

MISSISSIPPI — Is named after the river of that name, " the Fa- 
ther of Waters." 

MISSOURI — Named from the river, which means " Muddy Wa- 
ter." Her Latin motto means " the highest law shall be the safety 
of the people." 

NEBRASKA — Named from her principal river. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE— Named after Hampshire in England, is 
called the " Granite State." 

NEW JERSEY— Was named after the Island of Jersey. 

NEW YORK— Named in honor of the Duke of York, of Eng- 
land, is called the "Empire State." Her motto means " more ex- 
cellent." 

NORTH CAROLINA — The "Old North" or "Turpentine 
State," was named in honor of Charles IX, of France. 

NEVADA — Was called after the range of mountains in the State. 
Her Latin motto means " willing and able." 

OHIO — Called from the river of that name, is known as the 
" Buckeye State." Its motto means " An Empire in an Empire." 

OREGON — Is called after its principal river. 

PENNSYLVANIA— Was named after William Penn. Her fa- 
miliar name is " the Keystone State." 

RHODE ISLAND—" Little Rhody," has "Hope" for her motto. 

SOUTH CAROLINA— Derived its name like North Carolina, 
and is known as " the Palmetto State," 

TENNESSEE-was named after her river, and is known as " the 
Big Bend State." 

TEXAS — Retains its Mexican name, and is known as " the Lone 
Star State." 

VERMONT — Derives its name from two French words, Verd 
Mont, meaning Green Mountain — and that is her familiar name. 

VIRGINIA— Named after the virgin Queen Elizabeth, of Eng- 
land, is called " the Old Dominion." Her motto means, "So, al- 
ways, with tyrants,''' and is symbolized in her coat of arms. 

WEST VIRGINIA— Was named from the old State. Her Latin 
tnotto moans, " Mountaineers arc always freemen."" 

WISCONSIN — Is named from her principal river, and is called 
"the Badger State." 



378 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



CHAPTER XCH. 
The Seceding States. 

The secession of eleven of the Southern slave States 
near the close of 1860 and in the beginning of 1861, 
is a thing so well understood, both as to its causes and 
consequences, that little need be said about it in a work 
not claiming to be historical, but descriptive and ex- 
planatory of what is. 

We therefore omit to give any account of the devas- 
tating civil war which followed the attempt to separate 
one part of the country from the other, and to destroy 
the authority of the United States government over 
one-half of its territory. But the fact that eleven of 
these States, viz : Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Geor- 
gia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Worth Carolina, South Car- 
olina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia took no part in 
the administration of the government or any of its 
affairs for nearly five years, that it produced a kind of 
semi-interregnum in the United States government du- 
ring this time, and produced so much disorder and 
irregularity in its administration, that we mast allude 
to it in order to explain these irregularities. 

By reference to our lists of Presidents, Vice Presi- 
dents, heads of departments and United States Sena- 
tors under each State, it will be observed that no man 
from the seceding States filled any of these places, or 
represented his State in the United States Senate, from 
1861 to 1868, with the exception of Tennessee, which 
returned to the Union in 1866. Bv 1868 most of the 



THE SECEDING STATES. 379 

other States had also returned. Virginia was re-admit- 
ted early in the year 1870 ; and, with the exceptions 
of Georgia, Mississippi and Texas, all these States have 
been re-admitted into the Union, and are at this time 
(April, 1870,) represented in both Houses of Congress. 
But how long Georgia, Mississippi and Texas will re- 
main unrepresented in Congress, depends upon the fu- 
ture action of this body, together with that of the peo- 
ple of these States. But, from present indications, 
their re-admission into the Union, and consequently 
their re-representation in Congress, will take place du- 
ring 1870. If so, we may reasonably hope that peace, 
harmony and prosperity will again distinguish our 
whole country ; and all good men will say, Esto per- 
pekca / 



380 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER XCHI. 
Territories. 

Until a very recent date there has been, west of the 
States, a vast uninhabited stretch of country, extend- 
ing to the Pacific ocean. This territory, however, was 
constantly becoming less as the people pushed out from 
the inhabited portions into these almost boundless and 
unoccupied regions. This process has been going on 
ever since order was established at the close of the 
Revolutionary war. But it was the discovery of rich 
mines of gold and silver in this western wilderness 
that gave emigration thither an unprecedented impulse. 
"Within the past twenty years, heretofore unexplored, 
uninhabited, and almost unknown regions have become 
peopled. States have grown out of them, and the 
whole of this almost interminable waste has been ex- 
plored and surveyed. Boundary lines have been fixed 
and Territorial governments established, so that no 
part now lies outside of an organized local govern- 
ment. Every spot of this heretofore trackless desert 
may now be localized and described as a part of some 
State or well-defined territory. 

Having given a brief account of the States now in 
the Union, it remains for us to give a similar account 
of the Territories, which embrace all outside of the 
States, and, together with them , cover the whole area 
of the United States. 

These Territories we give as they exist at the close 
of the year 1868. After a few years, several, if not all 
of them may become States. Besides, from their im- 
mense size, (as may be seen by looking at their areas, 



TERItlTORIES. 381 

(shown below,) they will probably be divided into two 
or three parts, and these parts will receive new names, 
and finally come in as States. Each one of the most 
of them contains land enough to make three States, 
larger than the average size of those now in the Union. 
And in estimating the nnmber there will be when all 
the existing Territories shall be formed into conveni- 
ently-sized States, we may safely say there will yet be 
added from twenty-five to thirty new ones, although 
we should not enlarge our boundaries by the acquisition 
of any new territory. 

The following is a list of all the remaining Territo- 
ries, placed in the order of the times when their Terri- 
torial governments were formed by acts of Congress : 

Organized as a 

Territory. Square miles. Acres. Pop. in '60. 

New Mexico, Sect. 9, 1850. 24§ ,063. 155,560,320. 93,516. 

Utah, Sept. 9, 1850. 128,835. 82,454,400. 40,273. 

"Washington, Mar. 2, 1853. 175,141. 112,090,240. 11,594. 

Dakota, Mar. 2, 1861. 318,128. 203,601,920. 4,837. 

. . tt, , o i lopo f "Was cut off from New Mexico. 

Arizona, Feb. 24, 1863. < A . „ „ n , , . , 

» ' t^rea and population unknown. 

Idaho, Mar. 3, 1863. Area and population unknown. 

Montana, May 26, 1864. Area and population unknown. 

In this brief statement we do not notice any of the 
laws made for their government, or the officers ap- 
pointed to administer it. Suffice it to say that they 
have a Governor, Secretary and judges of their courts, 
who are appointed by the President, by and with the 
consent of the Senate. The laws organizing their Ter- 
ritorial governments are of course enacted by Con- 
gress ; and so are all the general laws relating to their 
administration. But they are allowed to elect and or- 
ganize a Territorial Legislature, and to regulate their 
own internal affairs. The laws of Congress, and all 
the provisions made by it, or by their Territorial legis- 
lation, and all the officers appointed to administer them, 
are of a temporary character, are made only for a tem- 
porary government, and all disappear as soon as the 
Territory is admitted as a State. 



382 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER XCIV. 
Indian Territory. 

This part of the United States requires a special no- 
tice, because it differs widely from any other. While 
it is located within our own boundaries, it is in some 
respects like a foreign country, and its inhabitants like 
foreigners ; yet it is not a foreign country, but a do- 
mestic dependency, and the various tribes inhabiting 
it are domestic dependent nations, if we dignify small 
tribes of savages by such a sounding title. The Indian 
Territory lies west of the Mississippi river, west of the 
State of Arkansas, and north of Texas, and is of large 
dimensions, containing no less than 71,127 square 
miles, or 45,521,280 acres. The United States govern- 
ment, finding that there were frequent collisions, broils 
and difficulties, and sometimes wars between the 
whites and Indians, while in close proximity to each 
other, in some instances persuaded the Indians, and in 
some cases compelled them to leave their homes and 
lands, and remove to this Territory, where they could 
live more apart from the whites, and enjoy their own 
laws and customs without molestation from white 
neighbors. This Territory has thus become the 
residence of a number of tribes, each having its 
own section of country within the Territory, or Indian 
country. Here the United States exercise no author- 
ity over them, excepting in certain crimes perpetrated 
by them against the whites. Of crimes committed by 
Indians against Indians, it takes no cognizance. For 
this purpose, the Indian Territory is annexed to the 
judicial district of the adjoining States, (viz. : to Ar- 



INDIAN TERRITORY. 383 

kansas and Missouri,) that they may be tried and pun- 
ished by the United States circuit and district courts 
when sitting in these districts. They are allowed to 
live under their own laws, follow their own customs, 
and indulge in their own modes of life. The land has 
been ceded to the Indians, each tribe owning the por- 
tion allotted to it by the United States. It is quite 
probable that after the Indians have reached a higher 
grade of civilization, and become more assimilated to 
the customs and usages of the white people, that they 
will apply to Congress for admittance into the family 
of States, and become an integral part of the United 
States. But at present they occupy this semi-isolated 
condition, are under our protection, and partially under 
our criminal laws. The United States would protect 
them against foreign invasion or harm, in case inter- 
ference should be attempted. The government pro- 
tects them against our own people ; for it will not al- 
low them to trade with, nor even to go among them 
without permission. The provision made by the 
United States for the preservation and well-being of 
the Indians, by assigning them a location in the Indian 
Territory, does not, however, include all the Indian 
tribes ; those now inhabiting this Territory are princi- 
pally from the tribes east of the Mississippi river ; 
many tribes west of that river still remain in their orig- 
inal homes, or have moved to certain localities which 
have been reserved for them, called Indian reserva- 
tions, where they are protected by Indian agents ap- 
pointed by the government for this purpose, and also 
to look after other Indian affairs. 

The population of the Territory at the last census 
was 9,761 ; while the whole number of Indians in the 
United States amounts to about 300,000. 



384 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER XCV. 
The Wars of tho United States. 

1. So many acts of the government, and so many- 
laws of Congress have had especial reference to the 
wars in which the country has been involved, that it 
will throw much light upon them to give a very brief 
historical sketch of the different wars in which the 
United States have been engaged. 

2. Thefirst in order of time, and in the results which 
followed, is the Revolutionary war, as it is called in 
our own country. This war was begun and consum- 
mated, however, before our government existed ; for 
it was fought for the express purpose of gaining the 
power to establish a government for ourselves. This 
the people could not do while they were under the 
power of the English government, which oppressed them 
with bad laws, and with corrupt and oppressive admin- 
istration. Petitions for relief, and strong remon- 
stran ces against such oppression, proved utterly abortive. 
The people resorted to arms with a firm determination 
to redress their wrongs by force, as all other means 
had failed. 

3. This statement gives the reasons for this war. It 
commenced on the 19th of April, 1775 — or rather, on 
that day the first blood was spilt. Some preparations 
had been previously made, since it had been seen for 
some time that the stubborn acts of the English gov- 
ernment, and the determination of the people to redress 
their greivances, would pretty certainly lead to a con- 
test. 



WARS OF THE UNITED STATES. 385 

4 This war lasted seven years, and was attended 
with, varied success. The colonies were poor, the pop- 
ulation small, and to many it appeared preposterous to 
contend with the power of the mother country, which 
was rich in money and means to subdue the rebellion, 
as she termed this uprising of the people to vindicate 
their rights. There were other causes which pro- 
tracted the struggle, and which caused more blood to 
be shed than the battles with the British armies would 
have cost, had all the people in the colonies been 
united, which was not the case. Numbers of them op- 
posed the war, adhered to the old government, even 
took up arms on the side of England, and did all in 
their power to assist her in her efforts to put the colo- 
nies down. These men rendered material aid to the 
British during the whole period of the contest. They 
were then, and have ever since been called Tories ; 
which meant enemies to their own country. They 
made themselves extremely odious to the people, and 
the name has been a term of reproach ever since. 

5. But this was not all. Besides the power of Eng- 
land, against which the people had to contend, the 
English, by means of presents, induced the Indians, 
who were numerous at that time, to join them. This 
stratagem not only afforded much assistance to the 
English government, but added the horrors of savage 
barbarity to the war. The Indians not only went into 
battle with the English, but laid in ambush, watching 
and shooting the people wherever they could find 
them. 

But all the power of Great Britain, aided by her par- 
13 



OUTLINES OF IT. S. GOVERNMENT. 

tisans here, and by her savage allies, availed not. The 
bloody struggle went on till victory crowned the 
efforts of the colonies. Under the leadership of 
Washington, the Revolution was completed, a new 
nationality was created, and a new government took 
its place in the family of nations. 

THE SECOND WAR. 

6. Not more than ten years had elapsed since the 
close of the Revolutionary war with England, before a 
serious difficulty occurred between the United States 
and France, which had been our friend and ally during 
the struggle for independence. We say it was a seri- 
ous difficulty, for it came very near involving the two 
countries in a destructive contest. But by the dis- 
creet and wise management of our government, noth- 
ing more than some hostile encounters at sea occurred, 
after which the two nations came to a good under- 
standing, and no further hostile acts were perpetrated 
on either side. Before this the French government 
authorized the capture of American vessels. This was 
done in several instances; therefore Congress author- 
ized American vessels to retaliate upon the French, 
and all treaties with France were declared void. 

7. But why this hostility between those who recently 
were such firm friends ? This may be explained ; 
France was at war with England, and she wished to in- 
volve the United States in her controversy. She 
wanted us to assist her because she assisted us ; quite 
a plausible reason ; but President "Washington, and 
many others of the wisest and best men in the country 
disapproved of commencing another war with England, 



WARS OF THE UNITED STATES. 387 

or of aiding her enemies so soon after we had con- 
cluded a peace with her. Besides, we were weak 
then ; our resources almost exhausted, and we were 
deeply in debt. Washington's policy prevailed, and 
the nation escaped another war with our ancient 
enemy. France disliked this, and for a few years was 
quite hostile to us; but wiser counsels finally prevailed, 
and friendly relations were again established between 
the two nations. 

THE THIRD WAR. 

8. The third war, although hardly entitled to so 
sounding a name — for it was rather a fight with pi- 
rates — commenced in 1801, with Tripoli, one of the 
piratical Barbary powers of the north of Africa. She, 
with Morocco and Algiers, undertook a system of rob- 
bery upon all vessels trading up the Mediterranean 
sea, by demanding tribute for the privilege of navigat- 
ing that sea. It was an assumption of power that 
could not be better explained than to call it piratical. 
They undertook to enforce these most unrighteous de- 
mands by capturing the ships, and imprisoning their 
crews, if they refused to comply. They tried the 
game on our vessels, captured several, and imprisoned 
their seamen. This was rather more than our govern- 
ment was disposed to endure ; so it dispatched a 
squadron of ships under Commodore Preble, who had 
a fight with some of their vessels, knocked them to 
pieces, bombarded their town, and made them deliver 
up all the American prisoners. These energetic pro- 
ceedings soon humbled the barbarians, and compelled 
them to relinquish their nefarious practice of demand- 



388 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

ing tribute from American or any other vessels that 
traded up the Mediterranean sea. 

THE FOURTH WAR. 

9. This broke out in 1812, and in our histories and 
conversations is generally called the war of 1812, be- 
cause it was commenced in that year. This was our 
second war with England, and lasted nearly three 
years. The reasons for it were very different from 
those which brought on the first; and may be given 
as follows : England claimed the right to board our 
ships, either national or private, wherever she found 
them, and to search them under pretense of searching 
for her seamen, who had deserted from their vessels, 
and were now employed on board of ours ; and also 
for men who had once been subjects of the British 
government, but had subsequently emigrated to 
America, and became citizens of the United States. 
This right she claimed and actually enforced on many 
occasions, by carrying off every man of this descrip- 
tion she found on board our ships, upon the assump- 
tion that if a man had ever been a subject of hers he 
must always remain so ; and that he had no right to be- 
come a citizen of any other country : we did not subscribe 
to such a doctrine, but held that if any body wished to 
expatriate himself from his own country, and to be- 
come a citizen of ours, he had a perfect right to do so, 
and that when he did, it was as much the duty of our 
government to protect him as it was to protect a na- 
tive citizen. 

10. Such antagonistic principles, if carried into ac- 
tion as they were by the English, must necessarily end 



WARS OF THE UNITED STATES. 389 

in an appeal to arms. On the 19th of June, in con- 
formity with an act of Congress, the President pro- 
claimed war with England. 

The contest, with varied success on both sides, was 
continued until the 8th of January, 1815, the day on 
which General Jackson defeated the British at New 
Orleans. Soon after, news reached the United States 
that the American and English commissioners, who 
had met at Ghent, had, on the 24th of December, 1814, 
concluded a treaty of peace. As soon as this was 
known, hostilities ceased on land. Several battles oc- 
curred at sea after this, for the news of peace did not 
reach the contestants until some time after it was 
known at home. By the treaty of Ghent, simply a 
treaty of peace was negotiated, seemingly because both 
parties had become tired of the war. The issue upon 
which the war broke out, was left unsettled by the 
commissioners, who ignored that question, but agreed 
to stop fighting. England has not since enforced her 
doctrine of the right to search our vessels, and to carry 
off our men, although they may have once been her 
subjects. The war was prosecuted principally on the 
seas, where a number of severe naval battles were 
fought, and many captures of ships made on both sides. 
Although England had a far more powerful navy than 
we had, yet in victories and captures the odds were on 
our side. 

THE FIFTH WAR. 

11. The fifth war was that with Mexico. It com- 
menced on the 26th of April, 1846, and grew out of 
the annexation of Texas (early in 1845), to the United 



390 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

States. Mexico had not yet entirely abandoned her 
claim to, and authority over Texas, which had so re- 
cently revolted against her government. She could 
not but look with great disapprobation and jealousy 
upon the action of the United States in taking her re- 
volted province under their protection, and then an- 
nexing it to their own dominions. The people of 
Texas were afraid that Mexico would make an attempt 
to regain possession of the country, and called upon 
the United States government to protect them. 

12. James K. Polk, of Tennessee, was then Presi- 
dent, and had taken, before his election, a very promi- 
nent part in the annexation scheme. He was there- 
fore quite ready and willing to defend this, our newly 
acquired territory, and promptly sent Gen. Taylor to 
the western part of Texas, under the pretense of guard- 
ing the frontiers against any invasion of the Mexicans. 
Gen. Taylor, in obedience to orders from the President, 
marched his army quite up to the Rio Grande, which 
Mr. Polk claimed as the western boundary of Texas. 
But this the Mexicans, (w T ith good reason too,) dis- 
puted ; declaring that the western boundary of Texas 
was far to the east of that river, and remonstrated 
strongly against the action of the United States, in 
sending a hostile army into her territory, and hence 
took measures to expel the invaders. As before stated, 
on the 26th of April, 1846, a small number of the hos- 
tile parties met, and a fight between them ensued. 

Thus the war begun, and continued with almost un- 
varied success on the part of the United States army 
till the 2nd of February, 1848, when a treaty of peace 
was concluded. 



WARS OF THE UNITED STATES. 391 

During this short war of less than two years, we took 
all their strongholds of defence, including the city of 
Vera Cruz, together with their capital, the city of 
Mexico itself. Indeed the whole country was occu- 
pied, and might have been kept had we chosen to re- 
tain it. But in the treaty of peace we restored a part 
of their country, and retained all we desired of it, to- 
wit : California and New Mexico, and (in short) all the 
northern part of the country. But, to make the whole 
affair look less like robbery, we paid the Mexicans 
$10,000,000 for what we kept — which was nearly one- 
half of the whole country. 

14. By this war we very much enlarged our territory, 
but gained very little military glory, and added noth- 
ing to our character for justice and magnanimity. We, 
a powerful nation, fell upon a weak one, crushed it, 
and took so much of its territory as we pleased ; and 
that — to say the least of it — for a very trifling cause. 
A little wisdom, a little discreet diplomacy, would have 
averted this war, saved thousands of lives, millions of 
money, and preserved our character for justice and 
magnanimity. 

THE SIXTH WAR. 

15. This was by far the greatest, the most expen- 
sive, and most bloody war that was ever carried on up- 
on this continent. In magnitude, in expense, in the 
lives it cost, and in the evil consequences which resul- 
ted from it, it surpassed all the preceding wars com- 
bined, and verified the old adage that " civil wars are 
the worst of all wars." This, as everybody knows, was 
a civil war ; a war between the people of the same 



392 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

country and government, having the same intrests and 
the same destiny. 

16. Eight here we might expand our remarks to an 
extent exceeding the whole contents of this volume, in 
tracing the causes, detailing the operations, and notic- 
ing the results of this most terrible and cruel war. 
Then we might dwell long upon the consequences 
which must inevitably follow in all coming time. But 
this would be foreign to our purpose. We have only 
undertaken to give the veriest outlines of our various 
wars, the time when they commenced, the time of their 
duration, and the results produced Just so much we 
will say of our civil war — between the North and the 
South. It was begun on the 12th of April, 1861, by 
the bombardment of Fort Sumpter in Charleston har- 
bor. It was closed in April, 1865, by the surrender of 
Gen. Lee, the Southern commander-in-chief, with his 
army, to Gen. Grant, the commander-in-chief of the 
National forces, having lasted four years with varied 
success on both sides. All the details of this desperate 
struggle have heen written and published by many able 
historians, to whose works I must refer the reader who 
wishes to peruse a complete history of this great event. 

17. Here we will only add that it is impossible to 
say how many lives were lost in this devastating war ; 
500,000 on both sides is probably as correct an estimate 
as can be made. Eight or nine billions of dollars is 
probably as near an estimate of its cost as can be calcu- 
lated. Other disasters and evils almost inconceivable 
followed in its train. It famished the whole world 
with one of the most awful examples of the folly and 
the wickedness of war. 



WARS OF THE UNITED STATES. 393 

OUR INDIAN WARS. 

18. In addition to, and in connection with the seve- 
ral wars mentioned in the preceding remarks, our nu- 
merous wars with the various Indian tribes should be 
briefly noticed. In both of our wars with England, 
the Indians were wheedled and enticed by presents to 
take sides with England and against us. This, together 
with their barbarous mode of warfare, and their sav- 
age cruelties, produced a strong antipathy in the minds 
of our people against them. This feeling was recipro- 
cated by the Indians, and whenever any wrong was 
perpetrated by either party, it was an easy matter to 
make it a cause of war. The old animosities were 
there, and any offensive act from either side was almost 
certain to produce retaliatory acts from the other party. 
When the whites cheated the Indians, they in retalia- 
tion would steal from the whites. A pursuit and a 
massacre would follow, and then the government would 
be compelled to interfere. 

19. From these and other causes we have had many 
wars with nearly all the tribes of Indians in the coun- 
try. Some of these contests have been obstinate and 
bloody, costing many valuable lives, and a great deal 
of money. Any of the tribes — or all of them com- 
bined — could make but a feeble resistance to the 
power of the United States. Hence all our Indian 
wars have resulted in their final defeat, and sometimes 
in their almost utter destruction; at the present time 
(1869) a fierce and bloody war is raging between the 
government and the western Indians, who inhabit the 
country between the Mississippi river and the Rocky 



394 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

mountains. Various tribes are combined to prevent 
the settlement of the whites upon their lands, and to 
prevent the construction of the Pacific railroad through 
their hunting grounds. 

20. The Indians who remain do not exceed 300,000. 
They have been reduced to this small number by their 
frequent wars with the whites, but more especially by 
their almost perpetual war among themselves. Some 
of them have become partially civilized, and have 
turned their attention to agricultural pursuits, instead 
of wandering about on hunting excursions and warlike 
expeditions against each other. It is therefore to be 
hoped that our Indian wars will soon cease forever. 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 395 



THE 

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 



"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for 
one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them 
with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the sep- 
arate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's 
God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind re- 
quires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the 
separation. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created 
equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unaliena- 
ble rights ; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of hap- 
piness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted 
among men, deriving their Just powers from the consent of the gov- 
erned ; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive 
of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, 
and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such 
principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall 
seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, in- 
deed, will dictate that governments long established should not bo 
changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all expe- 
rience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while 
evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms 
to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and 
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design 
to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their 
duty to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for 
their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these 
colonies, and such ii now the necessity which constrains them to alter 
their former systems of government. The history of the present 
King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpa- 
tions, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute 
tyranny over these States. To prove this let facts be submitted to a 
candid world : 

He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary 
for the public good. 

He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and 
pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his as- 
Bent should be obtained ; and when so suspended, ho has utterly ne- 
glected to attend to them. 



396 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEKNMENT. 

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large 
districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of 
representation in the legislature ; a right inestimable to them, and 
formidable to tyrants only. 

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncom- 
fortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for 
the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. 

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for opposing, 
with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of the people. 

He has refused, for a long time after such dissolution, to cause 
others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of 
annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise ; 
the State remaining, in the meantime, exposed to all the danger of 
invasion from without, and convulsions within. 

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States ; for 
that purpose, obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners ; 
refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and rais- 
ing the conditions of new appropriations of lands. 

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his 
assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. 

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of 
their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. 

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms 
of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. 

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, with- 
out the consent of our legislature. 

He has affected to render the military independent of, and supe- 
rior to, the civil power. 

He has combined, with others, to subject us to a jurisdiction for- 
eign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws ; giving 
his assent to their acts of pretended legislation. 

Tor quartering large bodies of armed troops among us. 

For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment, for any 
murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these 
States. 

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world: 

For imposing taxes on us without our consent : 

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury: 

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offences : 

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring 
province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarg- 
ing its boundaries, so as to render it at once an example and fit in- 
strument for introducing the same absolute rule into these colonies : 

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, 
and altering fundamentally, the powers of our governments: 

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves in- 
vested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. 

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his pro- 
tection, and waging war against us, 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 397 

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, 
and destroyed the lives of our people. 

He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mercena- 
ries to complete the work of death, desolation and tyranny, already 
begun, with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled 
in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civil- 
ized nation. 

He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high 
seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners 
of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands. 

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeav- 
ored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless In- 
dian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished de- 
struction of all ages, sexes, and conditions. 

In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress, in 
the most humble terms ; our repeated petitions have been answered 
only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked 
by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a 
free people. 

Nor have we been wanting m attention to our British brethren. 
"We have warned them from time to time, of attempts made by their 
legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. "We 
have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and set- 
tlement here. We have appealed to their native j ustice and magnan- 
imity, and we have conjured them, by the ties of our common kin- 
dred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt 
our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to 
the voice of justice and consanguinity. We must, therefore, acqui- 
esce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, 
as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace, friends. 

We, therefore, the representatives of the UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA, in GENERAL CONGRESS assembled, appealing to 
the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our intentions, 
do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these 
colonies, solomenly publish and declare, That these United Colonic 
are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT 
STATES; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British 
crown, and that all political connexion between them and the State 
of Great Britian, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as 
FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, they have full power to 
levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, anu 
to do all other acts and things which INDEPENDENT STATES 
may of right do. And, for the support of this declaration, and a 
firm reliance on the protection of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, we 
mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacrea 
honor. 

The foregoing declaration was, by order of Congress, engrossed, 
and signed by the following members ; 

JOHN HANCOCK. 



398 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



New Hampshire. 

JoSIAH BARTLETT, 

William Whipple, 
Matthew Thornton. 

Rhode Island. 
Stephen Hopkins, 
William Ellery. 

Connecticut. 
Roger Sherman, 
Samuel Huntington, 
William Williams, 
Oliver Wolcott. 

New York. 
William Floyd, 
Philip Livingston, 
Francis Lewis, 
Lewis Morris. 

New Jersey. 
Richard Stockton, 
John Witherspoon, 
Francis Hopkinson, 
John Hart, 
Abraham Clark. 

Pennsylvania. 
Robert Morris, 
Benjamin Rush, 
Benjamin Franklin, 
John Morton, 
George Clymer, 
James Smith, 
George Taylor, 
James. Wilson, 
George Ross. 



Massachusetts Bay. 
Samuel Adams, 
John Adams, 
Robert Treat Paine, 
Elbridge Gerry. 

Delaware. 
Cesar Rodney, 
George Reed, 
Thomas M'Kean. 

Maryland. ] 
Samuel Chase, 
William Paca, 
Thomas Stone, 
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. 

Virginia. 
George Wythe, 
Richard Henry Lee, 
Thomas Jefferson, 
Benjamin Harrison, 
Thomas Nelson, Jun., 
Francis Lightfoot Lee, 
Carter Braxton. 

North Carolina. 
William Hooper, 
Joseph Hewes, 
John Penn. 

South Carolina. 
Edward Rutledge, 
Thomas Hetward, Jun., 
Thomas Lynch, Jun., 
Arthur Middleton. 

Georgia. 
Button Gwinnett, 
Lyman Hall, 
George Walton. 



THE CONSTITUTION. 399 



CONSTITUTION 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES OP .AMERICA. 

"We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more per- 
fect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide 
for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the 
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and 
establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 

AKTICLE I. 

Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted sfc.ll be vested in 
a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and 
House of Eepresentatives. 

Section 2. The House of Eepresentatives shall be composed of 
members chosen every second year by the people of the several States, 
and the electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite 
for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. 

No person shall be a Eepresentative who shall not have attained to 
the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the 
United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of 
that State in which he shall be chosen. 

Eepresentatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the 
several States which may be included within this Union, according 
to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to 
the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service 
for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of 
all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within 
three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United 
States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such man- 
ner as they shall by law direct. The number of Eepresentatives 
shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall 
have at least one Eepresentative ; and until such enumeration shall 
be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose 
three, Massachusetts eight, Ehodc Island and Providence Plantations 
one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania 
eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina 
five, and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, tho 
Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of clcction'to fill such 
vacancies. 

The House of Eepresentatives shall choose their Speaker and other 
officers, and shall have the solo power of impeachment, 



400 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of 
two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for 
six years ; and each Senator shall have one vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the 
first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three 
classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated 
at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expi- 
ration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of 
the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year ; 
and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the re- 
cess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make 
temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Legislature, 
which shall then fill such vacancies. 

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the 
age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United 
States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that 
State for whicJ^he shall be chosen. 

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the 
Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. 

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President 
pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall 
exercise the office of President of the United States. 

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. 
"When sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. 
When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice 
shall preside. And no person shall be convicted without the concur- 
rence of two-thirds of the members present. 

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than 
to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any 
office of honor, trust or profit under the United States : but the party 
convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, 
judgment and punishment according to law. 

Section 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections 
for Senators and Eepresentatives, shall be prescribed in each State 
by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by 
law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choos- 
ing Senators. 

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such, 
meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall 
"by law appoint a different day. 

Section 5. Each house shall bo the judge of the election, returns 
and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall 
constitute a quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may ad- 
journ from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attend- 
ance of absent members in such manner, and under such penalties as 
each house may provide. 

E-ich house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its 
members for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two- 
thirds, expel a member. 



THE CONSTITUTION. 401 

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time 
to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judg- 
ment require secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the members of 
either house on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those 
present, be entered on the journal. 

Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the 
consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to 
any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. 

Section 8. The Senators and Eeprescntatives shall receive a com- 
pensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of 
the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except 
treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest 
during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and 
in going to and returning from the same ; and for any speech or de- 
bate in either house they shall not be questioned in any other place. 

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he 
was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of 
the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments 
whereof shall have been increased during such time ; and no person 
holding any office under the United States, shall be a member of 
either house during his continuance in office. 

Section 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the 
House of Representatives ; but the Senate may propose or concur 
with amendments as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives 
and the Senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the 
President of the United States ; if he approve he shall sign it, but if 
not he shall return it with his objections to that house in which it 
shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their 
journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration 
f two-thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, 
together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall 
likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that 
House, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both 
houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the 
persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the jour- 
nal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by 
the President within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shall have 
been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if 
lie had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevent 
its return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution or vote to which tho concurrence of tho 
Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except, on a 
question of adjournment), shall be presented to the President of tho 
United States ; and. before the same shall take effect, shall be ap- 
proved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by 
two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to 
tho rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. 



402 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Section 8. The Congress shall have power — 

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the 
debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the 
United States ; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform 
throughout the United States ; 

To borrow money on the credit of the United States ; 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several 
States, and with the Indian tribes ; 

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws 
on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States ; 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, 
and fix the standard of weights and measures ; 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and 
current coin of the United States ; 

To establish post-offices and post-roads. 

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for 
limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their re- 
spective writings and discoveries ; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ; 

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high 
seas, and offences against the law of nations ; 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make 
rules concerning captures on land and water ; 

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to 
that use shall be for a longer term than two years ; 

To provide and maintain a navy ; 

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and 
naval forces j 

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the 
Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions ; 

To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, 
and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the ser- 
vice of the United States, reserving to the States respectively the 
appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia 
according to the discipline prescribed by Congress. 

To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such district 
(not exceeding ten miles square), as may, by cession of particular 
States and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the gov- 
ernment of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all 
places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the State in 
which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arse- 
nals, dock-yards and other needful buildings ; — and 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying 
into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested 
by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in 
any department or officer thereof. 

Section 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any 
of the States now existing shall think proper t» admit, shall not be 



THE CONSTITUTION. 403 

prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hun- 
dred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importa- 
tion, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, 
unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may 
require it. 

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. 

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid unless in proportion 
to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken. 

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State. 

No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or 
revenue to the ports of one State over those of another; nor shall 
vessels bound to, or from one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay 
duties in another. 

No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence 
of appropriations made by law ; and a regular statement and accouut 
of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be pub- 
lished from time to time. 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States ; and 
no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall with- 
out the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, 
office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince or for- 
eign State. 

Section 10. No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or con- 
federation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; emit 
bills of credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in 
payment of debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or 
law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of no- 
bility. 

No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any im- 
posts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely 
necessary for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of 
all duties and imposts laid by any State on imports or exports, shall 
be for the use of the Treasury of the United States ; and all such 
laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress. 

No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty on 
tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into 
any agreement or compact with another State, or with a foreign 
power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such inimin- 
nent danger as will not admit of delay. 

AETICLE II. 

Section 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of 
the United States of America. He shall hold his offico during the 
term of four years, and, together with the Vice President chosen for 
the same term, be elected as follows; 

Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature there- 
of may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of 



404 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in 
the Congress ; but no Senator or Eepresentative, or person holding 
an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appoin- 
ted an elector. 

[*The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by- 
ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabi- 
tant of the same State Avith themselves. And they shall make a list 
of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; 
which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat 
of the government of the United States, directed to the President of 
the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of 
the Senate and House of Eepresentatives, open all the certificates, 
and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the great- 
est number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a ma- 
jority of the whole number of electors appointed ; and if there be 
more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number 
of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose 
by ballot one of them for President; and if no person have a major- 
ity, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like 
manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, tha 
votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each State 
having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a mem- 
ber or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all 
the States shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the 
choice of the President, the person having the greatest number 
of votes of the electors shall be the Vice President. But if there 
should remain two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall 
choose from them by ballot the Yice President.] 

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, 
and the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall 
be the same throughout the United States. 

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United 
States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligi- 
ble to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to 
that office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, 
and been fourteen years a resident within the United States. 

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, 
resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of 
the said office, the same shall devolve on the Yice President, and the 
Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resigna- 
tion, or inability, both of the President and Yice President, declar- 
ing what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act 
accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be 
elected. 

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a com- 

*This clause within brackets has been superceded and annulled by 
the 12th amendment. 



THE CONSTITUTION. 405 

pensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during 
the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not re- 
ceive within that period any other emolument from the United 
States, or any of them. 

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the fol- 
lowing oath or affirmation : 

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the 
"office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of 
" my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the 
" United States." 

Section 2. The President shall be commander-in-chief of the 
army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several 
States, when called into the actual service of the United States ; he 
may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each 
of the Executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties 
of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant re- 
prieves % and pardon for offences against the United States, except in 
cases of impeachment. 

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present 
concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of the 
Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers^ and con- 
suls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United 
States whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, 
and which shall be established by law ; but the Congress may by law 
vest the appointment of such inferior officers as they think proper in 
the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of depart- 
ments. 

The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may 
happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commission* 
which shall expire at the end of their next sessions. 

Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress infor- 
mation of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consider- 
ation such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; ho 
may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of 
them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to tho 
time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall 
think proper ; he shall receive ambassadors and other public minis- 
ters; he shall take en re that the laws be faithfully executed, and 
shall commission all the officers of the United States. 

Section 4. The President, Vice President and all civil officers 
of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachm nt 
for, and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and 
misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE III. 

Section 1. The judicial power of the United States shall bo 
vested in one Supremo Court, and such inferior courts as the Con- 
gress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both 



406 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during 
good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a 
compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continu- 
ance in office. 

Section 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law 
and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United 
States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their au- 
thority ; — to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, 
and consuls ; — to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction ; — 
to controversies to which the United States shall be a party ; — to con- 
troversies between two or more States ; — between a State and citizens 
of another State ; — between citizens of different States, — between 
citizens of the same State claiming lands under grants of different 
States, and between a State, or the citizens thereof, and foreign 
States, citizens or subjects. 

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and con- 
sul?, and those in which a State shall be a party, the Supreme Court 
shall have original jurisdiction. 

In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall 
have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such excep- 
tions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be 
by jury; and such trial shall be held in the State where the said 
crimes shall have been committed ; but when not committed within 
any State, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress 
may by law have directed. 

Section 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only 
in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving 
them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason un- 
less on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on 
confession in open court. 

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of trea- 
son, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or 
forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted. 

AETICLE IY. 

Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each State to the 
public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State. 
And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which 
such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect 
thereof. 

Section 2. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all priv- 
ileges and immunities of citizens in the several States. 

A person charged in any State with treason, felony or other crime, 
who shall flee from justice, and be found in another State, shall on 
demand of the Executive authority of the State from which he fled, 
be delivered up, to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of 
the crime. 



THE CONSTITUTION. 407 

2To person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws 
thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or 
regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but 
shall be delivered up on the claim of the party to whom such service 
or labor may be due. 

Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this 
Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the ju- 
risdiction of any other State: nor any State be formed by the junc- 
tion of two or more States, or parts of States, without the consent of 
the Legislatures of the States concerned, as well as of the Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful 
rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property be- 
longing to the United States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall 
be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of 
any particular State. 

Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in 
this Union a Kepublican form of government, and shall protect each 
of them against invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or 
of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against 
domestic violence. 

AETICLE V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it 
necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the 
application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, 
shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either 
case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Con- 
stitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the 
several States, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one 
or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress. 
Provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year 
one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect tho 
first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article ; and 
that no State, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suf- 
frage in the Senate. 

AETICLE YI. 

All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before tho 
adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United 
States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. 

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall 
be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall 
be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the su- 
preme law of tho land; and the judges in every State shall be bound 
thereby, anything in tho Constitution or laws of any State to the 
contrary notwithstanding. 

The Senators and Keprescntativcs before mentioned, and the mem- 
bers, of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial 
officers, both of the United States and of the 



408 



OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution ; but no 
religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office* 
or public trust under the United States. 

AETICLE VII. 

The ratification of the Conventions of nine States shall be sufficient 
for the establishment of this Constitution between the States so rati- 
fying the same. 

Done in Convention by the unanimous consent of the States pres- 
ent, the seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Inde- 
pendence of the United States of America, the twelfth. In 
Witness Whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names 

GEO. WASHINGTON, 
President and Deputy from Virginia. 

Delaware. 
Geo. Bead, 
John Dickinson, 
Jaco. Broom, 
Gunning Bedford, Jun'r, 

KlCHARD BASSETT. 



New Hampshire^ 
John Langdon, 
Nicholas Gilman. 

Massachusetts. 
Nathaniel Gorham, 
Bufus King. 

Connecticut. 
Wm. Saml. Johnson, 
Eoger Sherman. 

New York. 
Alexander Hamilton. 

New Jersey. 
Wil. Livingston, 
Wm. Paterson, 
David Brearley, 
Jona. Dayton. 

Pennsylvania. 
B. Franklin, 
Bobt. Morris, 
Tho. Fitzsimons, 
James Wilson, 
Thomas Mifflin, 
Geo. Clymer, 
Jared Ingersoll, 
Gouv. Morris. 
Attest : 



Maryland. 
James M'Henry, 
Danl. Carroll, 
Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer. 
Virginia. 

John Blair, 
James Madison, Jr. 

North Carolina. 
Wm. Blount, 
Hu. Williamson, 
Bich'd Dobbs Spaight.] 

South Carolina. 
j. butledge, 
Charles Pinckney, 
Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney, 
Pierce Butler. 

Georgia. 
William Pew, 
Abr. Baldwin. 
WILLIAM JACKSON, Rrrrefar?/. 



AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 409 



ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO, AND AMEND- 
ATORY OF, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 

Proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, 
pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. 



ARTICLE I. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of relig- 
ion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abrdging the freedom 
of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to 
assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. 

ARTICLE II. 

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free 
State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be in- 
fringed. 

ARTICLE III. 

No soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house with- 
out the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner 
to be prescribed by law. 

ARTICLE IY. 

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, 
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not bo 
violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, sup- 
ported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place 
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 

ARTICLE V. 

No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infa- 
mous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, 
except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia 
when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall 
any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy 
of life or limb ; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a 
witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, 
without due process of law ; nor shall private property be taken lor 
public use, without just compensation, 



410 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

AETICLE VI. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a 
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and dis- 
trict wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district 
shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of 
the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the 
witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining 
witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his 
defense. 

AETICLE VII. 

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall ex- 
ceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and 
no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court 
of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. 

AETICLE VIII. 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines impoc-ed, 
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

AETICLE IX. 

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not 
be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 

AETICLE X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, 
nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respect- 
ively, or to the people. 

AETICLE XL 

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to 
extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against 
one of the United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens 
or subjects of any foreign State. 

AETICLE XII. 

The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by bal- 
lot for President and Vice President, one of whom at least shall not 
be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves ; they shall name 
in their ballots the person to be voted for as President, and in distinct 
ballots the person voted for as Vice President, and they shall make 
distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons 
voted for as Vice President, and of the number of votes for each, 
which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat 
of the government of the United States, directed to the President 
of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in presence of the 
Senate and House of Eepresentative.?, open all the certificates and the 
votes shall then be counted. Tho person having the greatest num.- 



AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 411 

ber of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be 
a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no 
person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest 
number not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as Presi- 
dent, the House of Kepresentatives shall choose immediately, by bal- 
lot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be 
taken by States, the representation from each State having one vote ; 
a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members 
from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall 
be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall 
not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve 
upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the 
Vice President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or 
other Constitutional disability of the President. The person having 
the greatest number of votes as Vice President, shall be the Vice 
President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of 
electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the 
two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice 
President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of 
the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number 
shall be necessary to a choice. But no person Constitutionally ineli- 
gible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States. 

AETICLE. XIII. 

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as 
a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly con- 
victed, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to 
their jurisdiction. 

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation. 

AETICLE. XIV. 

Section. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States 
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United 
States, and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make 
or enforce any law which shallabridgethe privileges or immunities 
of citizens of the United States ; nor shall any State deprive any 
person of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor 
deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of 
the laws. 

Sec. 2. Representatives shall bo appointed among the several 
States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole 
number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed ; but 
when the right to vote at any election for the choico of electors for 
President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives 
in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a State or the 
members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male in- 
habitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age and citizens 



412 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

of the United States, or in any way abridged except for participa- 
tion in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of representation therein 
shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male 
citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one 
years of age in such State. 

Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Eepresentative in Con- 
gress or elector of President and Yice President, or hold any office 
civil or military, under the United States or under any State who, 
having previously taken an oath as a Member of Congress, or as an 
officer of the United States, or as a member of any State Legisla- 
ture, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support 
the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insur- 
rection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the 
enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each 
house, remove such disability. 

Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States au- 
thorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions 
and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, 
shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State 
shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in the aid of in- 
surrection or rebellion against the United States, or any loss or 
emancipation of any slave, but such debts, obligations and claims 
shall be held illegal and void. 

Sec. 5. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appro- 
priate legislation, the provisions of this article. 

AETICLE XV. 

Sec. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote, shall 
not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any State, on 
account of race, color or previous condition of servitude. 

Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by ap- 
propriate legislation. 



RULES OF THE IIOUSE. 413 

STAKDHSTG RULES AKD ORDERS 

FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE 

HOUSE OP REPRESEHTATIYES OF THE UNITED STATES, 

As Amended at the 1st Session of the SQth Congress. 



TOUCHING THE DUTY OF THE SPEAKER. 

1. He shall take the chair every day precisely at the hour to which 
the house shall have adjourned on the preceding day; shall immedi- 
ately call the members to order ; and, on the appearance of a quo- 
rum, shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read. 

2. He shall preserve order and decorum ; may speak to points of 
order in preference to other members, rising from his seat for that 
purpose ; and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to 
the house by any two members — on which appeal no member shall 
speak more than once, unless by leave of the house. 

3. He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting. 

4. Questions shall be distinctly put in this form, to wit: "As 
many as are of opinion that (as the question may be) say Aye ;" and 
after the affirmative voice is expressed, "As many as are of the con- 
trary opinion, say jVo." If the Speaker doubt, or a division be 
called for, the house shall divide ; those in the affirmative of the 
question shall first rise from their seats, and afterwards those in the 
negative. If the Speaker still doubt, or a count be required by at 
least one-fifth of the quorum of the members, the Speaker shall 
name two members, one from each side, to tell the members in the 
affirmative and negative — which being reported, he shall rise and 
state the decision to the house. 

5. The Speaker shall examine and correct the journal before it is 
read. He shall have a general direction of the hall, and the unap- 
propriated rooms in that part of the capitol assigned to the house, 
shall be subject to his order and disposal until the further order of 
the house. He shall have a right to name any member to perform 
the duties of the chair, but such substitution shall not extend beyond 
an adjournment. 

6. No person shall bo permitted to perform divine service in the 
chamber occupied by the House of Representatives, unless with tho 
consent of the Speaker. 

7. In all cases of ballot by the house, tho Speaker shall vote; in 
other cases he shall not be required to vote* unless the house bo 



414 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

equally divided, or unless his vote, if given to the minority, will 
make the division equal ; and in case of such equal division, the 
question shall be lost. 

8. All acts, addresses, and joint resolutions, shall be signed by the 
Speaker ; and all writs, warrants and subpoenas, issued by order of 
the house, shall be under his hand and seal, attested by the clerk. 

9. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galle- 
ries or lobby, the Speaker (or chairman of the Committee of the 
"Whole House,) shall have power to order the same to be cleared. 

OF THE CLERK AND OTHER OFFICERS. 

10. There shall be elected at the commencement of each Congress, 
to continue in office until their successors are appointed, a clerk, 
sergeant-at-arms, doorkeeper, and postmaster, each of whom shall 
take an oath for the true and faithful discharge of the duties of his 
office, to the best of his knowledge and abilities, and to keep the se- 
crets of the House ; and the appointees of the door-keeper and post- 
master shall be subject to the approval of the Speaker ; and, in all 
cases of election by the house of its officers, the vote shall be taken 
viva voce. 

11. In all cases where other than members of the house may be 
eligible to an office by the election of the house, there shall be a pre- 
vious nomination. 

12. In all other cases of ballot than for committees, a majority of 
the votes given shall be necessary to an election ; and where there 
shall not be such a majority on the first ballot, the ballots shall be re- 
peated until a majority be obtained. And in all ballotings blanks 
shall be rejected, and not taken into the count in enumeration of the 
votes, or reported by the tellers. 

13. It shall be the duty of the clerk to make and cause to be 
printed and delivered to each member at the commencement of every 
session of Congress, a list of the reports which it is the duty of any 
officer or department of the government to make to Congress ; re- 
ferring to the act or resolution and page of the volume of the laws 
or journal in which it may be contained, and placing under the name 
of each officer the list of reports required to be made, and the time 
when the report may be expected. 

14. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the House at the end of each 
session, to send a printed copy of the journals thereof to the Execu- 
tive, and to each branch of the Legislature of every State. 

15. All questions of order shall be noted by the clerk, with the de- 
cision, and put together at the end of the journal of every session. 

16. The clerk shall, within thirty days after the close of each ses- 
sion of Congress, cause to be completed the printing and primary 
distribution, to members and delegates, of the Journal of the House, 
together with an accurate index of the same. 

17. There shall be retained in the library of the clerk's office, for 
the use of the members there, and not to be withdrawn therefrom, 



RULES OF THE HOUSE. 415 

two copies of all the books and printed documents deposited in thg 
library. ™ 

18. The clerk shall have preserved for each member of the House, 
an extra copy, in good binding, of all the documents printed by order 
of either House at each future session of Congress. 

19. The clerk shall make a weekly statement of the resolutions and 
bills (Senate bills inclusive) upon the Speaker's table, accompanied 
with a brief reference to the orders and proceedings of the house 
upon each, and the date of such order and proceedings ; which state- 
ment shall be printed for the use of the members. 

20. The clerk shall cause an index to be prepared to the acts 
passed at every session of Congress, and to be printed and bound with 
the acts. 

21. All contracts, bargains, or agreements, relative to the furnish- 
ing any matter or thing or for the performance of any labor for the 
House of Eepresentatives, shall be made with the clerk, or approved 
by him, before any allowance shall be made therefor by the Commit- 
tee of Accounts. 

22. It shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms to attend the 
house during its sittings ; to aid in the enforcement of order, under 
the direction of the Speaker ; to execute the commands of the house 
from time to time ; together with all such process, issued by author- 
ity thereof, as shall be directed to him by the Speaker. 

23. The symbol of his office (the mace) shall be borne by the ser- 
geant-at-arms when in the execution of his office. 

24. The fees of the sergeant-at-arms shall be for every arrest, the 
sum of two dollars; for each day's custody and releasement, one dol- 
lar ; and for traveling expenses for himself or a special messenger, 
going and returning, one-tenth of a dollar for each mile necessarily 
and actually traveled by such officer or other person in the execution 
of such precept or summons. 

25. It shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms to keep the accounts 
for the pay and mileage of members, to prepare checks, and, if re- 
quired to do so, to draw the money on such checks for the members, 
(the same being previously signed by the Speaker, and endorsed by 
the member,) and pay over the same to the member entitled thereto. 

26. The sergeant-at-arms shall give bond, with surety, to the Uni- 
ted States, in a sum not less than five nor more than ten thousand dol- 
lars, at the discretion of the Speaker, and with such surety as the 
Speaker may approve, faithfully to account for the money coming in- 
to his hands for the pay of members. 

27. The doorkeeper shall execute strictly the 134th and 135th rules, 
relative to the privilege of the hall. And he shall be required, at 
the commencement and close of each session of Congress, to take an 
inventory of all the furniture, books, and other public property in 
the several committee and other rooms under his charge, and shall 
report the same to the house ; which report shall be referred to the 
Committee on Accounts, who shall determine the amount for which 
he shall be held liable for missing articles. 



416 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

28. The postmaster shall superintend the post-office kept in the 
capitol for the accommodation of the members. 

OF THE MEMBERS. 

29. No member shall vote on any question in the event of which 
he is immediately and particularly interested, or in any case where 
he was not within the bar of the house when the question was put. 
And when any member shall ask leave to vote, the Speaker shall pro- 
pound to him the question, " Were you within the bar before the last 
name on the roll was called?" and if he shall answer in the negative 
the Speaker shall not further entertain the request of such member 
to vote : Provided, however, that any member who was absent by 
leave of the house, may vote at any time before the result is an- 
nounced. 

30. Upon a division and count of the house on any question, no 
member without the bar shall be counted. 

31. Every member who shall be in the house when the question is 
put, shall give his vote unless the house shall excuse him. All mo- 
tions to excuse a member from voting, shall be made before the house 
divides, or before the call of the yeas and nays is commenced 5 and 
the question shall then be taken without debate. 

32. The name of a member who presents a petition or memorial, or 
who offers a resolution for the consideration of the house, shall be in- 
serted on the journals. 

33. No member shall absent himself from the service of the house 
unless he have leave, or be sick and unable to attend. 

OF CALLS OF THE HOUSE. 

34. Any fifteen members (including the Speaker, if there be one), 
shall be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members. 

35. Upon calls of the house, or in taking the yeas and nays on any 
question, the names of the members shall be called alphabetically. 

36. Upon the call of the house, the names of the members shall 
be called over by the clerk, and the absentees noted; after which the 
names of the absentees shall again be called over ; the doors shall then 
be shut, and those for whom no excuse or insufficient excuses are 
made may, by order of those present, if fifteen in number, be taken 
into custody as they appear, or may be sent for and taken into cus- 
tody, wherever to be found, by special messengers to be appointed for 
that purpose. 

37. When a member shall be discharged from custody, and admit- 
ted to his seat, the house shall determine whether such discharge shall 
be with or without pa}dng fees ; and in like manner whether a delin- 
quent member, taken into custody by a special messenger, shall or 
shall not be liable to defray the expenses of such special messenger. 

ON MOTIONS, THEIR PRECEDENCE, &C. 

38. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the 
Speaker; or, being in writing, it shall be handed to the chair and 
read aloud by the clerk, before debated. 



RULES OF THE HOUSE. 417 

89. Every motion shall be reduced to writing if the Speaker or any 
member desire it. Every written motion made to the house shall be 
inserted on the journals, with the name of the member making it, 
unless it be withdrawn on the same day on which it was submitted. 

40. After a motion is stated by the Speaker, or read by the clerk, it 
shall be deemed to be in the possession of the house, but may be with- 
drawn at any time before a decision or amendment. 

41. "When any motion or proposition is made, the question, "Will 
the house now consider it?" shall not be put unless it is demanded by 
some member, or is deemed necessary by the Speaker. 

42. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received 
but to adjourn, to lie on the table, for the previous question, to post- 
pone to a day certain, to commit or amend, to postpone indefinitely; 
which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which 
they are arranged; and no motion to postpone to a day certain, to 
commit, or to postpone indefinitely, being decided, shall be again al- 
lowed on the same day, and at the same stage of the bill or proposition. 

43. When a resolution shall be offered, or a motion made, to refer 
any subject, and different committees shall be proposed, the question 
shall be taken in the following order : 

The Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union ; the 
Committee of the Whole House; a Standing Committee; a Select 
Committee. 

44. A motion to adjourn, and a motion to fix the day to which the 
house shall adjourn, shall be always in order; these motions and the 
motion to lie on the table, shall be decided without debate. 

45. The hour at which every motion to adjourn is made shall be en- 
tered on the journal. 

46. Any member may call for the division of a question, before or 
after the main question is ordered, which shall be divided if it com- 
prehend propositions in substance so distinct that, one being taken 
away, a substantive proposition shall remain for the decision of the 
house. A motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed indivisible ; 
but a motion to strike out being lost, shall preclude neither amend- 
ment nor a motion to strike out and insert. 

47. Motions and reports may be committed at the pleasure of the 
house. 

48. No motion or proposition on a subject different from that under 
consideration shall be admitted.under color of amendment. No bill 
or resolution shall, at any time, be amended by annexing thereto, or 
incorporating therewith, any other bill or resolution pending before 
the house. 

49. When a motion has been once made, and carried in the affirma- 
tive or negative, it shall be in order for any member ol' the majority 
to move for the reconsideration thereof, on the same or succeeding 
day ; and such motion shall take precedence of all other questions, ex- 
cept a motion to adjourn, and shall not be withdrawn after the said 
succeeding day without the consent of the house; and thereafter any 
member may call it up for consideration. 

u 



418 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

50. In filling up blanks, the largest sum and longest time shall be 
first put. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS OE THE DAT. 

51. As soon as the journal is read, and the unfinished business in 
■which the house was engaged at the last preceding adjournment has 
been disposed of, reports from committees shall be called for and dis- 
posed of ; in doing which the Speaker shall call upon each standing 
committee in regular order, and then upon select committees ; and if 
the Speaker shall not get through the call upon the committees be- 
fore the house passes to other business, he shall resume the next call 
where he left off, giving preference to the report last under consider- 
ation : Provided, That whenever any committee shall have occupied 
the morning hour on two days, it shall not be in order for such com- 
mittee to report further until the other committees shall have been 
called in their turn. On the call for reports from committees on each 
alternate Monday, which shall commence as soon as the journal is 
read, all bills reported during the first hour after the journal is read 
shall be committed, without debate, to the Committee of the "Whole, 
and together with their accompanying reports, printed ; and if dur- 
ing the hour all the committees are not called, then, on the next al- 
ternate Monday, the Speaker shall commence where such call was 
suspended : Provided, That no bill reported under the call on alter- 
nate Mondays, and committed, shall be again brought before the 
house by a motion to reconsider. 

52. Eeports from committees having been presented and disposed 
of, the Speaker shall call for resolutions from the members of each 
State and delegate from each Territory, beginning with Maine and 
the Territory last organized, alternately ; and they shall not be de- 
bated on the very day of their being presented, nor on any day as- 
signed by the house for the receipt of resolutions, unless where the 
house shall direct otherwise, but shall lie on the table, to be taken up 
in the order in which they are presented ; and if on any day the 
whole of the States and Territories shall not be called, the Speaker 
shall begin on the next day where he left off the previous day : Pro- 
vided, That no member shall offer more than one resolution, or one 
series of resolutions, all relating to the same subject, until all the 
States and Territories shall have been called. 

53. A proposition requesting information from the President of 
the United States, or directing it to be furnished by the head of 
either of the Executive departments, or by the Postmaster General — 
shall lie on the table one day for consideration, unless otherwise or- 
dered by the unanimous consent of the house, and all such proposi- 
tions shall be taken up for consideration in the order they were 
presented, immediately after reports are called fur from select commit- 
tees, and when adopted, the clerk shall cause the same to be delivered. 

54. After one hour shall have been devoted to reports from com- 
mittees and resolutions, it shall be in order, pending the considera- 
tion or discussion thereof, to entertain a motion that the house do 
now proceed to dispose of the business on the Speaker's table, and to 



RULES OF THE HOUSE. 419 

the orders of the day — which being decided in the affirmative, the 

Speaker shall dispose of the business on his table in the following or- 
der, viz. : 

1st. Messages and other Executive communications. 

2d. Messages from the Senate, and amendments proposed by the 
Senate to bills of the house. 

3d. Bills and resolutions from the Senate on their first and second 
reading, that they be referred to committees and put under way ; 
but if, on being read a second time, no motion being made to 
commit, they are to be ordered to their third reading unless ob- 
jection be made ; in which case, if not otherwise ordered by a 
majority of the house, they are to be laid on the table in general 
file of bills on the Speaker's table, to be taken up in their turn. 

4th. Engrossed bills and bills from the Senate on their third reading. 

6th. Bills of the house and from the Senate, on the Speaker's table, 

on their engrossment, or on being ordered to a third reading, to 

be taken up and considered in the order of time in which they 

passed to a second reading. 

The messages, communications, and bills on his table having been 

disposed of, the Speaker shall then proceed to call the orders of the 

day. 

55. The business specified in the 54th and 130th rules shall be 
done at no other part of the day, except by permission of the 
house. 

56. The consideration of the unfinished business in which the 
house may be engaged at an adjournment shall be resumed as soon 
as the journal of the next day is read, and at the same time each day 
thereafter until disposed of ; and if, from any cause other business 
shall intervene, it shall be resumed as soon as such other business 
is disposed of. And the consideration of all other unfinished busi- 
ness shall be resumed whenever the class of business to which it be- 
longs shall be in order under the rules. 

OF DECORUM AND DEBATE. 

57. When any member is about to speak in debate, or deliver any 
matter to the House, he shall rise from his seat and respectfully ad- 
dress himself to " Mr. Speaker " — and shall confine himself to the 
question under debate, and avoid personality. 

58. Members may address the house or committee from the clerk's 
desk, or from a place near the Speaker's chair. 

59. When two or more members happen to rise at once, the 
Speaker shall name the member who is first to speak. 

60. No member shall occupy more than one hour in debate on any 
question in the house, or in committee ; but a member reporting the 
measure under consideration from a committee may open ami close 
the debate, provided that when debate is closed by order o( the 
house, any member shall be allowed, in committee, five minutes to 
explain any amendment he may offer, after which any member who 
shall first obtain the floor shall be allowed to speak five minutes in 
opposition to it, and there shall be no further debate i n the amend- 



420 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

ment ; but the same privilege of debate shall be allowed in favor of 
and against any amendment that may be offered to the amendment; 
and neither the amendment nor an amendment to the amendment 
shall be withdrawn by the mover thereof, unless by the unanimous 
consent of the committee. Provided further, that the house may, 
by the vote of a majority of the members present, at any time after 
the five minutes debate has taken place upon proposed amendments 
to any section or paragraph of a bill, close all debate upon such sec- 
tion or paragraph, or at their election upon the pending amend- 
ments only. 

61. If any member in speaking or otherwise, transgress the rules 
of the house, the Speaker shall, or any member may call him to 
order ; in which case the member so called to order shall im- 
mediately sit down, unless permitted to explain; and the house 
shall, if appealed to, decide on the case, but without debate ; if there 
be no appeal the decision of the chair shall be submitted to. If the 
decision be in favor of the member called to order, he shall be at lib- 
erty to proceed ; if otherwise, he shall not be permitted to proceed, 
in case any member object, without leave of the house ; and if the 
case require it, he shall be liable to the censure of the house. 

62. If a member be called to order for words spoken in debate, 
the person calling him to order shall repeat the words excepted to, 
and they shall be taken down in writing at the clerk's table ; and no 
member shall be held to answer, or be subject to the censure of the 
house, for words spoken in debate, if any other member has spoken, 
or other business has intervened, after the words spoken, and before 
exception to them shall have been taken. 

63. No member shall speak more than once to the same question 
without leave of the house, unless he be the mover, proposer or in- 
troducer of the matter pending ; in which case he shall be permitted 
to speak in reply, but not until every member choosing to speak shall 
have spoken. 

64. If a question depending be lost by adjournment of the House, 
and revived on the succeeding day, no member who shall have 
spoken on the preceding day shall be permitted again to speak 
without leave. 

65. "While the Speaker is putting any question, or addressing the 
house, none shall walk out of or across the house ; nor in such case, 
or when a member is speaking, shall entertain private discourse ; 
nor while a member is speaking, shall pass between him and the 
chair. Every member shall remain uncovered during the session of 
the house. No member or other person shall visit or remain by the 
clerk's table while the ayes and noes are calling, or ballots are 
counting. 

66. All questions relating to the priority of business to be acted on 
shall be decided without debate. 

OF COMMITTEES. 

67. All committees shall be appointed by the Speaker, unless other- 
"wise specially directed by the house, in which case they shall be ap- 



RULES OF THE HOUSE. 421 

pointed by ballot ; and if upon such ballot the number required shall 
not be elected by a majority of the votes given, the house shall pro- 
ceed to a second ballot, in which a plurality of votes shall prevail ; 
and in case a greater number than is required to compose or com- 
plete a committee shall have an equal number of votes, the house 
shall proceed to a further ballot or ballots. 

68. The first named member of any committee shall be the chair- 
man ; and in his absence, or being excused by the house, the next 
named member, and so on, as often as the case shall happen, unless 
the committee, by a majority of their number, elect a chairman. 

69. Any member may excuse himself from serving on any com- 
mittee at the time of his appointment, if he is then a member of two 
other committees. 

70. It shall be the duty of a committee to meet on the call of any 
two of its members, if the chairman be absent, or decline to appoint 
such meeting. 

71. The several standing committees of the house shall have leave 
to report by bill or otherwise. 

72. No committee shall sit during the sitting of the house without 
special leave. 

73. No committee shall be permitted to employ a clerk at the pub- 
lic expense, without first obtaining leave of the house for that purpose. 

74. Thirty-one standing committees shall be appointed at the com- 
mencement of each Congress, viz. : 

TO CONSIST OF NINE MEMBERS EACH — 

A Committee of Elections. — Nov. 13, 1789. 

A Committee of Ways and Means. — Jan. 7, 1802. 

A Committee on Appropriations. — March 2, 1865. 

A Committee on Banking and Currency. — March 2, 1865. 

A Committee on the Pacific Railroad. — March 2, 1865. 

A Committee on Claims. — Nov. 13, 1794. 

A Committee on Commerce. — Dec. 14, 1795. 

A Committee on Public Lands. — Dec. 17, 1805. 

A Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Eoads. — Nov. 9, 1808. 

A Committee for the District of Columbia. — Jan. 27, 1808. 

A Committee on the Judiciary. — June 3, 1813. 

A Committee on Revolutionary Claims. — Dec. 22, 1813. 

A Committee on Public Expenditures.— Feb. 26, 1814. 

A Committee on Private Land Claims. — April 29, 1816. 

A Committee on Manufactures. — Dec. 8, 1819. 

A Committee on Agriculture. — May 3, 1820. 

A Committee on Indian Affairs. — Dec. 18, 1821. 

A Committee on Military Affairs. — March 13, 1822. 

A Committee on Militia. — Dec. 10, 1835. 

A Committee on Naval Altai rs. — March 13, 1822. 

A Committee on Foreign Affairs.— March 13, 1822. 

A Committee on the Territories. — Dee. 13, 1825. 

A Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. — Dec. 9, 1825. 



422 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

A Committee on Invalid Pensions. — Jan. 10, 1831. 
A Committee on Koads and Canals. — Dec. 15, 1831. 
A Committee on Patents. — Sept. 15, 1837. 

TO CONSIST OF FIVE MEMBERS EACH — 

A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.^— Sept. 15, 1837. 

A Committee of Kevisal and Unfinished Business. — Dec. 14. 1795. 

A Committee on Accounts. — Nov. 7, 1801, 

A Committee on Mileage. — Sept 15, 1837. 

A Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures. — Jan. 21, 1864. 

75. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Elections to examine 
and report upon the certificates of election, or other credentials, of 
the members returned to serve in this house, and to take into their 
consideration all such petitions and other matters touching elections 
and returns as shall or may be presented or come into question, and 
be referred to them by the house. 

76. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Appropriations to 
take into consideration all Executive communications and such other 
propositions in regard to carrying on the several departments of the 
government as may be presented and referred to them by the house. 

In preparing bills of appropriations for other objects, the Com- 
mittee on Appropriations shall not include appropriations for carry- 
ing into effect treaties made by the United States ; and where an ap- 
propriation bill shall be referred to them for their consideration, 
which contains appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect, and 
for other objects, they shall propose such amendments as shall pre- 
vent appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect being included 
in the same bill with appropriations for other objects. 

77. It shall also be the duty of the Committee on Appropriations, 
within thirty days after their appointment, at every session of Con- 
gress, commencing on the first Monday of December, to report the 
general appropriation bills for legislative, executive, and judicial 
expenses ; for sundry civil expenses ; for consular and diplomatic ex- 
penses ; for the army ; for the navy ; for the expenses of the Indian 
Department ; for the payment of invalid and other pensions ; for the 
support of the Military Academy ; for fortifications ; for the service 
of the Post-office Department, and for mail transportation by ocean 
steamers ; or, in failure thereof, the reasons of such failure. And 
said committee shall have leave to report said bills (for reference 
only) at any time. 

78. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Claims to take into 
consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching claims 
and demands on the United States as shall be presented, or shall or 
may come in question, and be referred to them by the house ; and 
to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions 
for relief therein as to them shall seem expedient. 

79. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Commerce to take 
into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching 
the commerce of the United States as shall be presented, or shall or 



RULES OF THE HOUSE. 423 

may come into question, and be referred to them by the house ; and 
to report, from time to time, their opinion thereon. 

80. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Public Lands to 
take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things res- 
pecting the lands of the United States as shall be presented, or shall 
or may come in question, and be referred to them by the house ; and 
to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions for 
relief therein as to them shall seem expedient. 

81. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Post-Office and 
Post-Koads to take into consideration all such petitions and matters 
or things touching the post-office and post-roads as shall be presented, 
or shall come in question, and be referred to them by the house ; 
and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions 
relative thereto as to them shall see'm expedient. 

82. It shall be the duty of the Committee for the District of Co- 
lumbia to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or 
thing3 touching the said District as shall be presented or shall come 
in question, and be referred to them by the house ; and to report 
their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto 
as to them shall seem expedient. 

83. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Judiciary to take 
into consideration such petitions and matters or things touching ju- 
dicial proceedings as shall be presented or may come in question, and 
be referred to them by the house, and to report their opinion thereon, 
together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem 
expedient. 

84. It shall be the duty of the Committee on ^Revolutionary Claims 
to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things 
touching claims and demands originating in the Eevolutionary war, 
or arising therefrom, as shall be presented, or shall or may come in 
question, and be referred to them by the house, and to report their 
opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief therein 
as to them shall seem expedient. 

85. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Expenditures 
to examine into the state of the several public departments, and par- 
ticularly into laws making appropriations of money, and to report 
whether the moneys have been disbursed conformably with such laws ; 
and also to report from time to time such provisions and arrangements 
as may be necessary to add to the economy of the departments, and 
the accountability of their officers. 

86. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Private Land Claims 
to take into consideration all claims to land which may be referred 
to them, or shall or may come in question ; and to report their opin- 
ion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief therein as 
to them shall seem expedient. 

87. It shall bo the duty of tho Committee on Military Affairs to 
take into consideration all subjects relating to the military establish- 
ment and public defense which may be referred to them by tho 
house, and to report their opinion thereupon ; and also to report, 



424 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

from time to time, such measures as may contribute to economy and 
accountability in the said establishment. 

88. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Militia to take 
into consideration and report on all subjects connected with the or- 
ganizing, arming and disciplining the militia of the United States. 

89. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Naval Affairs to take 
into consideration all matters which concern the naval establishment, 
and which shall be referred to them by the house, and to report their 
opinion thereupon ; and also to report, from time to time, such mea- 
sures as may contribute to economy and accountability in the said 
establishment. 

90. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to 
take into consideration all matters which concern the relations of the 
United States with foreign nations, and which shall be referred to 
them by the house, and to report their opinion on the same. 

91. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Territories to ex- 
amine into the legislative, civil and criminal proceedings of the Ter- 
ritories, and to devise and report to the house such means as in their 
opinion may be necessary to secure the rights and privileges of resi- 
dents and non-residents. 

92. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Eevolutionary Pen- 
sions to take into consideration all such matters respecting pensions 
for services in the Eevolutionary war, other than invalid pensions, 
as shall be referred to them by the house. 

93. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Invalid Pensions to 
take into consideration- all such matters respecting invalid pensions 
as shall be referred to them by the house. 

94. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Eoads and Canals to 
take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things rela- 
ting to roads and canals, and the improvement of the navigation of 
rivers, as shall be presented or may come in question, and be referred 
to them by the house, and to report thereupon, together with such 
propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient. 

95. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Patents to consider 
all subjects relating to patents which may be referred to them; and 
report their opinions thereon, together with such propositions rela- 
tive thereto as may seem to them expedient. 

96. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Buildings 
and Grounds to consider all subjects relating to the public edifices 
and grounds within the city of Washington which may be refer- 
red to them ; and report their opinion thereon, together with such 
propositions relating thereto as may seem to them expedient. 

97. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Eevisal and Unfin- 
ished Business to examine and report what laws have expired, or are 
near expiring, and require to be revived or further continued ; also 
to examine and report, from the journal of last session, all such mat- 
ters as were then depending and undetermined. 

98. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Accounts to superin- 
tend and control the expenditures of the contingent fund of the 



RULES OF THE HOUSE e 425 

House of ^Representatives ; also to audit and settle all accounts which 
may be charged thereon. 

99. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Mileage to ascertain 
and report the distance to the sergeant-at-arms for which each mem- 
ber shall receive pay. 

100. There shall be referred by the clerk to the members of the 
Committee on Printing on the part of the house, all drawings, maps, 
charts, or other papers which may at any time come before the 
house for engraving, lithographing, or .publishing in any way ; 
which committee shall report to the house whether the same ought, 
in their opinion, to be published ; and if the house order the publica- 
tion of the same, that said committee shall direct the size and man- 
ner of execution of all such maps, charts, drawings, or other papers, 
and contract by agreement, in writing, for all such engraving, litho- 
graphing, printing, drawing, and coloring, as may be ordered by the 
house ; which agreement, in writing, shall be furnished by said com- 
mittee to the Committee of Accounts, to govern said committee in all 
allowances for such works, and it shall be in order for said commit- 
tee to report at all times. 

101. It shall be in order for the Committee on Enrolled Bills and 
the Committee on Printing to report at any time. 

102. Seven additional standing committees shall be appointed at 
the commencement of the first session in each Congress, whose du- 
ties shall continue until the first session of the ensuing Congress. 

COMMITTEES, TO CONSIST OF FIVE MEMBERS EACH — 

1. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
tures as relates to the Department of State ; 

2. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
tures as relates to the Treasury Department ; 

3. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
tures as relates to the Department of "War ; 

4. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
tures as relates to the Department of the Navy ; 

5. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
tures as relates to the Post Office ; 

6. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
tures as relates to the Public Buildings; and 

7. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expendi- 
tures as relates to the Interior Department. 

103. It shall be tho duty of tho said committees to examine into 
the state of tho accounts and expenditures respectively submitted to 
them, and to inquire and to report particularly — 

Whether the expenditures of tho respective departments are justi- 
fied by law ; 

Whether tho claims from timo to time satisfied and discharged 
by the respective departments are supported by sufficient vouchors, 
establishing their justness both as to their character and amount. 

Whether such claims have been discharged out of funds appropria- 



426 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

ted therefor, and whether all moneys have been disbursed in conform- 
ity with appropriation laws ; and 

Whether any, and what, provisions are necessary to be adopted, to 
provide more perfectly for the proper application of the public mon- 
eys, and to secure the government from demands unjust in their 
character or extravagant in their amount. 

And it shall be, moreover, the duty of the said committees to re- 
port, from time to time, whether any, and what, retrenchment can 
be made in the expenditures of the several departments, without det- 
riment to the public service; whether any, and what, abuses at any 
time exist in the failure to enforce the payment of moneys which may 
be due to the United States from public defaulters or others ; and to 
report, from time to time, such provisions and arrangements as may 
be necessary to add to the economy of the several departments and 
the accountability of their officers. 

It shall be the duty of the several committees on public expendi- 
tures to inquire whether any officers belonging to the branches or 
departments, respectively, concerning whose expenditures it is their 
duty to inquire, have become useless or unnecessary ; and to report 
from time to time, on the expediency of modifying or abolishing the 
same ; also to examine into the pay and emoluments of all officers 
under the laws of the United States ; and to report from time to 
time such a reduction or increase thereof as a just economy and the 
public service may require. 

OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE. 

104. The House may at any time, by a vote of a majority of the 
members present, suspend the rules and orders for the purpose of 
going into the Committee of the "Whole House on the State of the 
Union ; and also for providing for the discharge of the Committee 
of the Whole House, and the Committee of the Whole House on the 
State of the Union, from the further consideration of any bill re- 
ferred to it, after acting without debate on all amendments pending 
and that may be offered. 

105. In forming a Committee of the Whole House, the Speaker 
shall leave his chair, and a chairman to preside in committee shall 
be appointed by the Speaker. 

106. Whenever the Committee of the Whole on the State of the 
Union, or the Committee of the Whole House, finds itself without 
a quorum, the chairman shall cause the roll of the house to be called, 
and thereupon the committee shall rise, and the chairman shall re- 
port the names of the absentees to the house, which shall be entered 
on the journal. 

107. Upon bills committed to a Committee of the Whole House, 
the bill shall be first read throughout by the clerk, and then again 
read and debated by clauses, leaving the preamble to be last consid- 
ered ; the body of the bill shall not be defaced or interlined ; but all 
amendments, noting the page and line, shall be duly entered by the 
clerk on a separate paper, as the same shall be agreed to by the com- 



RULES OE THE HOUSE. 427 

mittee, and so reported to the house. After report, the bill shall 
again be subject to be debated and amended by clauses, before a 
question to engross it be taken. 

108. All amendments made to an original motion in committee 
shall be incorporated with the motion, and so reported. 

109. xlli amendments made to a report committed to a Committee 
of the "Whole House shall be noted and reported, as in the case of 
bills. 

110. No motion or proposition for a tax or charge upon the people 
shall be discussed the day on which it is made or offered, and every 
such proposition shall receive its first discussion in a Committee of 
the Whole House. 

111. No sum or quantum of tax or duty, voted by a Committee of 
the Whole House, shall be increased in the House until the motion 
or proposition for such increase shall be first discussed and voted in a 
Committee of the Whole House ; and so in respect to the time of its 
continuance. 

112. All proceedings touching appropriations of money shall be 
first discussed in a Committee of the Whole House. 

113. The rules of proceedings in the house shall be observed in a 
Committee of the Whole House, so far as they may be applicable, 
except the rule limiting the times of speaking ; but no member shall 
speak twice to any question until every member choosing to speak 
shall have spoken. 

114. In Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, the 
bills shall be taken up and disposed of in their order on the calen- 
dar ; but when objection is made to the consideration of a bill, a 
majority of the committee shall decide, without debate, whether it 
shall be taken up and disposed of, or laid aside ; provided, that gen- 
eral appropriation bills, and, in time of war, bills for raising men or 
money, and bills concerning a treaty of peace, shall be preferred to 
all other bills at the discretion of the committee ; and when de- 
manded by any member, the question shall first be put in regard to 
them ; and all debate on special orders shall be confined strictly to 
the measure under consideration. 

OF BILLS. 

115. Every bill shall be introduced on the report of a committee, 
or by motion for leave. In the latter case, at least one day's notice 
shall be given of the motion in the house, or by filing a memoran- 
dum thereof with the clerk, and having it entered on the journal ; 
and the motion shall be made, and the bill introduced, if leave is 
given, when resolutions are called for ; such motion, or the lull when 
intoduced, may be committed. 

116. Every bill shall receive throe several readings in the house 
previous to its passage; and the bills shall be dispatched in order as 
they were introduced, unless where the house shall direct otherwise; 
but no bill shall bo twice read on the same day, without special order 
of the house. 



428 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

117. The first reading of a bill shall be for information, and if op< 
position be made to it, the question shall be, " Shall this bill be re- 
jected?" If no opposition be made, or if the question to reject 
be negatived, the bill shall go to its second reading without a 
question. 

118. Upon the second reading of a bill, the Speaker shall state it 
as ready for commitment or engrossment ; and if committed, then a 
question shall be, whether to a select or standing committee, or to a 
Committee of the Whole House ; if to a Committee of the "Whole 
House, the house shall determine on what day ; if no motion be 
made to commit, the question shall be stated on its engrossment ; and 
if it be not ordered to be engrossed on the day of its being reported, 
it shall be placed on the general file on the Speaker's table, to be taken 
up in order. But if the bill be ordered to be engrossed, the house 
shall appoint the day when it shall be read the third time. 

119. General appropriation bills shall be in order in preference to 
any other bill of a public nature unless otherwise ordered by a ma- 
jority of the house. 

And the house may, at any time, by a vote of the majority of the 
members present, make any of the general appropriation bills a spe- 
cial order. 

120. No appropriation shall be reported in such general appropri- 
ation bills, or be in order as an amendment thereto, for any expendi- 
ture not previously authorized by law, unless in continuation of ap- 
propriations for such public works and objects as are already in 
progress, and for the contingencies for carrying on the several de- 
partments of the government. 

121. Upon the engrossment of any bill making appropriations of 
money for works of internal improvement of any kind or description, 
it shall be in the power of any member to call for a division of the 
question, so as to to take a separate vote of the house upon each item 
of improvement or appropriation contained in said bill, or upon such 
items separately, and others collectively, as the members making the 
call may specify ; and if one-fifth of the members present second 
said call, it shall be the duty of the Speaker to make such divisions 
of the question, and put them to vote accordingly. 

122. The bills from the Court of Claims shall, on being laid before 
the house, be read a first and second time, committed to a Committee 
of the Whole House, and, together with the accompanying reports, 
printed. 

123. A motion to strike out the enacting words of a bill shall have 
precedence of a motion to amend ; and, if carried, shall be consid- 
ered equivalent to its rejection. Whenever a bill is reported from a 
Committee of the Whole, with a recommendation to strike out the 
enacting words, and such recommendation is disagreed to by the 
house, the bill shall stand recommitted to the said committee without 
further action by the house. 

124. After commitment and report thereof to the house, or at any 
time before its passage, a bill may be recommitted ; and should such 



. RULES OF THE HOUSE. 429 

recommitment take place after its engrossment, and an amendment 
be reported and agreed to by the house, the question shall be again 
put on the engrossment of the bill. 

125. All bills ordered to be engrossed shall be executed in a fair 
round hand. 

126. No amendment by way of rider shall be received to any bill 
on its third reading. 

127. When a bill shall pass, it shall be certified by the clerk, noting 
the day of its passage at the foot thereof. 

LOCAL OR PRIVATE BUSINESS. 

128. Friday and Saturday of every week shall be set apart for the 
consideration of private bills and private business, in preference to 
any other, unless otherwise determined by a majority of the house. 

129. On the first and fourth Friday and Saturday of each month 
the calendar of private bills shall be called over, (the chairman of 
the Committee of the Whole House commencing the call where he 
left off the previous day,) and the bills to the passage of which no 
objection shall then be made shall be first considered and disposed of. 
But when a bill is again reached, after having been once objected to, 
the committee shall consider and dispose of the same, unless it shall 
again be objected to by at least five members 

OF BILLS ON LEAVE AND RESOLUTIONS. 

130. All the States and Territories shall be called for bills on leave 
and resolutions on each alternate Monday during each session of 
Congress; and, if necessary to secure the object on said days, all 
resolutions which shall give rise to debate shall lie over for discus- 
sion, under the rules of the House already established ; and the 
whole of said days shall be appropriated to bills on leave and resolu- 
tions, until all the States and Territories are called through. And 
the Speaker shall first call the States and Territories for bills 
on leave ; and all bills so introduced during the first hour after the 
journal is read shall be referred, without debate, to their appropriate 
committees ; provided however, that a bill so introduced and re- 
ferred shall not be brought back into the house upon a motion to re- 
consider. 

OF PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS. 

131. Members having petitions and memorials to present, may 
hand them to the clerk, indorsing the same with their names, and 
the reference or disposition to be made thereof; and such petitions 
and memorials shall be entered on the journal, subject to the control 
and direction of the Speaker; and if any petition or memorial be so 
handed in, which, in the judgment of the Speaker, is excluded by 
the rules, the same shall be returned to the member from whom it 
was received. 



430 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. 

132. The previous question shall be in this form : " Shall the main 
question be now put?" It shall only be admitted when demanded 
by a majority of the members present ; and its effects shall be to put 
an end to all debate, and to bring the house to a direct vote upon a 
motion to commit, if such motion shall have been made ; and if this 
motion does not prevail, then upon amendments reported by a com- 
mittee, if any ; then upon pending amendments, and then upon the 
main question. But its only effect, if a motion to postpone is pend- 
ing, shall be to bring the house to a vote upon such motion. When- 
ever the house shall refuse to order the main question, the considera- 
tion of the subject shall be resumed as though no motion for the 
previous question had been made. The house may also, at any time, 
on motion seconded by a majority of the members present, close all 
debate upon a pending amendment, or an amendment thereto, and 
cause the question to be put thereon ; and this shall not preclude any 
further amendment or debate upon the bill. A call of the house 
shall not be in order after the previous question is seconded, unless it 
shall appear, upon an actual count by the Speaker, that no quorum is 
present. 

133. On a previous question there shall be no debate. All inciden- 
tal questions of order arising after a motion is made for the previous 
question and pending such motion, shall be decided, whether on ap- 
peal or otherwise, without debate. 

OF ADMISSION ON THE FLOOR. 

134. No person except members of the Senate, their secretary, 
heads of departments, the President's private secretary, foreign min- 
isters, the Governor for the time being of any State, Senators and 
Representatives elect, and judges of the Supreme Court of the United 
States and of the Court of Claims, shall be admitted within the hall 
of the House of Representatives. Or any of the rooms upon the 
same floor or leading into the same. 

OF REPORTERS. 

135. Stenographers and reporters, other than the official reporters 
of the house, wishing to take down the debates, may be admitted by 
the Speaker to the reporters' gallery over the Speaker's chair, but 
not on the floor of the house ; but no person shall be allowed the priv- 
ilege of said gallery under the character of stenographer or reporter 
without a written permission of the Speaker, specifying the part of 
said gallery assigned to him ; nor shall said stenographer or reporter 
be admitted to said gallery unless he shall state in writing for what 
paper or papers he is employed to report ; nor shall he be so admit- 
ted, or, if admitted, be suffered to retain his seat, if he shall be or 
become an agent to prosecute any claim pending before Congress ; 
and the Speaker shall give his written permissiom with this con- 
dition. 



RULES OF THE HOUSE. 431 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF THE SESSION. 

136. After six days from the commencement of a second or subse- 
quent session of any Congress, all bills, resolutions, and reports 
which originated in the house, and at the close of the next preceding 
session remained undetermined, shall be resumed and acted on in 
the same manner as if an adjournment had not taken place. And 
all business before committees of the house at the end of one session 
shall be resumed at the commencement of the next session of the 
same Congress as if no adjournment had taken place. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

137. "Whenever confidential communications are received from the 
President of the United States, the house shall be cleared of all per- 
sons, except the members, clerk, sergeant-at-arms, and doorkeeper, 
and so continue during the reading of such communications, and 
(unless otherwise directed by the house) during all debates and pro- 
ceedings to be had thereon. And when the Speaker, or any other 
member, shall inform the house that he has communications to make 
which he conceives ought to be kept secret, the house shall, in like 
manner, be cleared till the communication be made ; the house shall 
then determine whether the matter communicated requires secrecy 
or not, and take order accordingly 

138. The rule for paying witnesses summoned to appear before this 
house, or either of its committees, shall be as follows : for each day 
a witness shall attend, the sum of two dollars ; for each mile he shall 
travel in coming to or going from the place of examination, the sum 
often cents each way; but nothing shall be paid for traveling home 
when the witness has been summoned at the place of trial. 

139. Maps accompanying documents shall not be printed, under 
the general order to print, without the special direction of the house. 

140. No extra compensation shall be allowed to any officer or mes- 
senger, page, laborer, or other person in the service of the house, or 
engaged in or about the public grounds or buildings ; and no person 
shall bo an officer of the house, or continue in its employment, who 
shall be an agent for the prosecution of any claim against the gov- 
ernment, or be interested in such claim otherwise than an original 
claimant ; and it shall be the duty of the Committee of Accounts to 
inquire into and report to the house any violation of this rule. 

141. When the reading of a paper is called for, and the same is 
objected to by any member, it shall be determined by a vote of the 
house. 

142. When a question is postponed indefinitely, the same shall not 
be acted upon again during the session. 

143. Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of 
the Senate shall be necessary, shall be read to the house, and laid on 
the table, on a day preceding that in which the same shall be moved, 
unless the house shall otherwise expressly allow. 

144. The rules of parliamentary practice, comprisod in Jefferson's 



432 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Manual, shall govern the house in all cases to which they are appli- 
cable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the standing rules 
and orders of the house, and joint rules of the Senate and House of 
Representatives. 

145. No standing rule or order of the house shall be rescinded or 
changed without one day's notice being given of the motion therefor ; 
nor shall any rule be suspended, except by a vote of at least two- 
thirds of the members present ; nor shall the order of business, as 
established by the rules, be postponed or changed, except by a vote 
of at least two-thirds of the members present ; nor shall the Speaker 
entertain a motion to suspend the rules, except during the last ten 
days of the session, and on Monday of every week at the expiration 
of an hour after the journal is read, unless the call of the States and 
Territories for bills on leave and resolutions has been earlier conclu- 
ded, when the Speaker may entertain a motion to suspend the 
rules. 

146. All election of officers of the house, including the Speaker, 
shall be conducted in accordance with these rules, so far as the same 
are applicable ; and pending the election of a Speaker, the clerk shall 
preserve order and decorum, and shall decide all questions of order 
that may arise, subject to appeal to the house. 

147. These rules shall be the rules of the House of Representa- 
tives of the present and succeeding Congresses unless otherwise 
ordered. 

148. An additional standing committee shall be appointed at the 
commencement of each Congress, whose duties shall continue until 
the first session of the ensuing Congress, to consist of five members, 
to be entitled a " Committee on a Uniform System of Coinage, 
"Weights, and Measures ;" and to this committee shall be referred all 
bills, resolutions,' and communications to the house upon that 
subj ect. 

149. The names of members not voting on any call of the ayes and 
noes shall be recorded in the journal immediately after those voting 
in the affirmative and negative, and the same record shall be made 
in the Congressional Globe. 

150. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Pacific Railroad 
to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things rel- 
ative to railroads or telegraph lines between the Mississippi valley 
and the Pacific coast, as shall be presented or shall come in question, 
and be referred to them by the^ house, and to report their opinion 
thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as to them 
shall seem expedient. 

151. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Ways and Means to 
take into consideration all reports of the Treasury Department, and 
such other propositions relative to raising revenue and providing ways 
and means for the support of the government as shall "be presented or 
shall come in question, and be referred to them by the house, and to 
report their opinion thereon by bill or otherwise, as to them shall 



RULES OF THE HOUSE. 433 

seem expedient ; and said committee shall have leave to report for 
commitment at any time. 

152. It shall be the duty of the "Committee on Banking and Bank 
Currency to take into consideration all propositions relative to hank- 
ing and the currency as shall he presented or shall come in question, 
and be referred to them by the house, and to report thereon by bill 
or otherwise. 



EEMAKKS UPON AKTICLE XIV. 



Since the publication of the first edition of this work, (early in the 
year 1868,) the nation has been officially notified by the Hon. W. H. 
Seward, Secretary of State, under due instructions from Congress, 
that the Fourteenth Article of Amendment to the Constitution, sub- 
mitted by Congress to the Legislatures of the several States, on or 
about the 16th day of June, 1866, and subsequently ratified by more 
than three-fourths of the said Legislatures, " has become valid to all 
intents and purposes as a part of the Constitution of the United 
States." 

Thirty States have adopted this most important amendment, namely, 
the States of Connecticut, New Hampshire, Tennessee, New Jersey, 
Oregon, Vermont, New York, Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Kan- 
sas, Maine, Nevada, Missouri, Indiana, Minnesota, Khode Island, 
"Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Iowa, 
Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana, South Carolina, Ala- 
bama and Georgia. Five States have rejected it, namely, Texas, 
Virginia, Kentucky, Delaware and Maryland. The remaining 
States, namely, California and Mississippi, do not appear to hay# 
taken final action thereon. 



434 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



UNITED STATES CHRONOLOGY. 



[In the following Chronological Table, we have inserted only such 
events and occurrences as relate to the government, to our wars, and 
to the distinguished men who have "been conspicuous either as states- 
men or commanders in our army or navy. To the events we have 
added numerous notes and comments, which make the following 
pages an epitome of the history of our country.] 

1775. 

April 19— Battle of Lexington, (10 m. N. W, of Boston,) the begin- 
ning of the Eevolutionary war, when the first blood in that 
contest was spilt. 
May 10 — The Second Continental Congress met at Philadelphia, the 
First having met Sept. 5th, the year before, at the same 
place. 

«' 10 — Colonels Allen and Arnold surprised and took Ticonderoga, 
New York, which surrendered without the loss of a man. 
The same day they took Crown Point (on the W. shore of 
Lake Champlain.) 

" 10 — Peyton Eandolph, of Virginia, chosen President of the 
Continental Congress. 

" 15 — Congress resolved to issue paper money. 

" 20 — Articles of Union and Confederation agreed on by the 
thirteen colonies. 

11 24 — John Hancock chosen President of the Continental Con- 
gress. 

" 25 — The British Generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne arrive 
at Boston. 
June 15 — Congress unanimously elects George "Washington com- 
mander-in-chief of the American army. 

" 17 — Battle of Bunker Hill (near Boston). British victorious, 
but not till twice repulsed with great slaughter. British 
forces, 3,000 ; American, 1,500; Br. killed and wounded 
1,000 ; Am. about 400. Gen. Warren fell here. The English 
burnt Charlestown, near Boston, the same day. 
r " 22— Congress resolved to issue $2,000,000 in Bills of Credit 
August — Col. Arnold left Cambridge, MasSv, with 1,000 men to in- 
vade Canada. 
Oct. 18 — Falmouth, in Mass., burnt by the British. 

" 22 — Peyton Eandolph, the first President of the Continental 
Congress, died. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 435 

Nov. 13 — Montreal surrendered to the Americans under Gen. Mont- 
gomery/ ; St. John's had surrendered on the 3d. 
Dec. 8 — Battle at Norfolk, Va. Br. under Lord Dunmore, defeated. 

" 13 — Congress resolved to fit out a navy of 13 ships. 

" 21 — The English Parliament pass an act confiscating all Amer- 
ican vessels found floating on the water, and for impressing 
their crews into the British navy, without distinction of 
persons. 

" 31 — Gen. Montgomery killed in an attempt, with Col. Arnold, 
to capture Quebec, and after a hard battle the Americans 
were compelled to surrender prisoners of war. 

1776. 

Jan. 1 — Lord Dunmore, the Br. Governor of Virginia, burnt Nor- 
folk and fled. 
Mar. 3 — The Americans, under Col. Bull, burn seven English ships, 

laden for Eng. , near Savannah, Ga. 
11 10 — Boston plundered by British soldiers. 
tt 17 — The Br. army evacuate Boston, and General "Washington 

takes possession of it. 
" 18 — Sir Archibald Campbell, not knowing that the English had 

left Boston, entered the harbor with 1,700 men, all of whom 

were made prisoners of war by Washington. 
" 18 — Congress resolved to call in and burn all the Continental 

money issued prior to this date, and then issue $10,000,000 

of new money. 
May 3 — Sir Peter Parker, with a Br. squadron of 20 sail, arrived at 

Cape Pear, with Lord Cornwallis on board. 
" 5 — Congress declared the authority of Great Britain abolished in 

the thirteen colonies. 
11 25 — Congress resolved to engage the Indians against the 

British. 
June 8 — The Americans made an unsuccessful attempt to capture 

some of the British forces at Trois Kiveres, in Canada, but 

burnt St. Ann's on the St. Lawrence river. 
" 11 — Congress appoint Thos. Jefferson, Jno. Adams, Benj. 

Franklin and Kobt. K. Livingston a committee to prepare a 

Declaration of Independence. 
" 15 — The British, under Sir H. Clinton, attacked Sullivan's 

Island, in Charleston harbor, and 
" 28 — They bombarded Port Moultry, commanded by Col. Moul- 

try, but were driven off. 
July 4 — Declaration of Independence of tho United States de- 
clared and published at Philadelphia. J 
July 12 — Lord Howe arrived from England with a fleet and 30,000 

troops, principally Hessians. 
" 12 — The Algcrines tako ( JI American prisoners from American 

ship?. 



436 OUTLINES OF TJ. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Aug. 22 — Br. troops to the number of 24,000, under Sir "Wm. Howe, 
land on Long Island, N. T. 
" 27 — Battle of Flatbush, on Long Island, near Brooklyn, -when 
the Americans were surprised by the British and Hessians, 
and defeated with a loss of 500 killed and 1,100 taken pris- 
oners. 

Sept. 15 — The English take possession of New York. 

Oct. 28— Battle of "White Plains, 25 miles from New York. 

Nov. 1 — Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, chosen President of the 
Continental Congress. 
" 16 — Fort Washington, on New York Island, taken by the 
British, but with a loss of nearly 1,000 men. 

Dec. 6— The British take Rhode Island. 

" 25 — Washington took 1,000 Hessians near Trenton, N. J. 

Dec. 26— Battle of Trenton N. J. 

In the latter part of this year, Congress appointed Benj. 
Franklin, Silas Deane, and Thomas Jefferson Commission- 
ers to France, to procure her aid. 

1777. 

Jan. 4 — Battle of Princeton, N. J. Loss about 400 on each side, but 

Am. Gen. Mercer was killed. 
Feb. 6 — England granted Letters of Marque and Reprisal against 

American ships. 
April 26 — Danbury, Conn., burned by the British under General 

Tryon. 

In the spring of this year Lafayette arrived in America 

from France, to aid us in our war with England. 

April John Morton, of Pennsylvania, and 

May 27 — Button Gwinnet, of Georgia, signers of the Declaration of 

Independence, died. 
May 24 — Col. Meigs attacked the British shipping at Sag Harbor, N. 

Y. , and destroyed 12 of their vessels. 
June 22 — The British evacuate New Brunswick, N. J. 
July 7 — After a fight, the TJ. S. frigate Hancock was captured by 

three British ships. 
« 7 — The Americans under Col. Livingston, were defeated by 

the Br. forces in a battle at Fort Ann, N. Y. 
" 31 — The Marquis Lafayette, by a vote of Congress, was made a 

Major General at the age of 21. 
Aug. 3 — Fort Schuyler, at the head of the Mohawk river, invested by 

the Br. Gen. Ganesvoort, however, held it. 
" 6 — Gen. Herkimer was ambushed by the British and Indians at 

Oriskany, and was defeated with a loss of 400 men. 
11 16 — Battle of Bennington, Vt. Americans, under Col. Stark, 

victorious. 
11 19 — Nichols Herkimer, a brave officer who was wounded at th« 

battle of Oriskany, died. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD/ 437 

Aug. 22 — The siege of Fort Stanwix (on the Mohawk river) was 
raised by the British under St. Leger, who retreated with 
loss of artillery, tents and stores. 
Sept. 11 — Battle of Brandywine, Del. Americans, under Gen. Sulli- 
van, defeated. 

" 18 — The Continental Congress, now in session at Philadelphia, 
adjourned to Lancaster on account of the approach of the 
British. 

*'* 19 — Battle of Stillwater, N. Y. Both parties claim the victory. 
Am., under Gen. Gates; Br., Gen. Burgoyne. 

M 26 — The English took possession of Philadelphia without op- 
position. 

" 28—21 ?— Gen. Wayne, with 1,500 men surprised at Paoli, 20 
miles from Phila., and 300 of his men killed. 
Oct. 4 — Battle of Germantown, near Phladelphia. Am., under Gen. 
Washington, defeated by the Br. under Gen Howe. 

M 7 — Second battle of Stillwater ; Am. victorious. 

" 13— Kingston, N. Y., burnt by the British. 

** 17 — Gen. Burgoyne surrendered his army to Gen. Gates, at 
Saratoga. 

« 22— Battle of Bed Bank, 1ST. J. The Hessians, under Count Do- 
nop, defeated with a loss of 500 killed. 
Nov. 15 — Articles of Confederation adopted by the Continental Con- 
gress, which was the only Constitution during the war. 
Dec. 11 — Washington and his army go into winter quarters at Valley 
Forge, 20 miles from Philadelphia. 

11 21 — At this time great numbers of Am. officers and men were 
prisoners of war in New York, where they were confined 
in loathsome jails and sugar houses, and many of them 
starved to death. 

1778. 

Mar. 4 — The American frigate Alfred, 20 guns, captured by the Brit- 
ish ships Ariadne and Ceres. 
" 11 — Bills passed the English Parliament, in which every- 
thing the Colonies had asked was granted, and Commission- 
ers were sent to America to offer terms of peace ; but Con- 
gress now rejected them all. Soon after this, France ac-> 
knowledged the Independence of the United States, and 
entered into a treaty of alliance and commerce with them, 
which Congress ratified. 
(i 21 — The American ministers, Franklin, Deano and Lee pub- 
licly received at the French Court. 

April 18 — A French fleet, commanded by Count D'Estiang, sent to 
the United States to aid them against the English. 

June 12 — Philip Livingston, of N. Y., a signer of the Dec. of Inde- 
pendence, died. 
" 18— The English evacuated Philadelphia, 



438 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

June 28 — Battle of Monmouth, ST. J. "Washington commanding the 
American, and Lord Cornwallis the British forces. Amer- 
icans victorious. 

July 4-5 — Nearly 400 American troops, and the greater part of the 
inhabitants of the Valley of Wyoming, were msssacred by 
the Tories and Indians — known to this day aS the " Wyom- 
ing Massacre." 

Sept. 28 — A regt. of American cavalry at Tappan, N. Y., surprised 
by the English, who rushed upon them with the bayonet, 
and killed, wounded or captured 67 of them. 

Dec. 29 — Savannah, Geo., taken by the English — 100 Americans 
killed, and 453 taken prisoners. 

1779. 

May 2 — Verplank's Point, on the Hudson river, with a garrison of 

70 men, surrendered to the British, under Gen. Clinton. 
u 10 — Norfolk and Portsmouth, Ya., taken by the British, who 

burnt many of the houses and vessels. 
" Stony Point, on the Hudson, abandoned by the Americans, and 

then taken by the English, under Gen. Clinton. 
June 6 — Patrick Henry, a distinguished orator and statesman, of Ya., 

died, aged 63. 
July 5-7 — N. Haven, Conn., plundered, and Fairfield, E. Haven and 

Norwalk, burnt by the British. 
11 15 — Gen. Wayne captured Stony Point from the English, who 

lost 600 men ; the Americans 100. 
<{ 19 — Battle of Paulus Hook, N. J. ; when the Americans, 

under Gen. Lee, captured the English troops at that place. 
Aug. 22 — Gen. Williamson invaded the Indian country, and burnt 

50,000 bushels of corn. 
Aug. 29— " Battle of the Chemung," fought at Elmira, N. Y. 

Americans, under Gen. Sullivan, victorious. 
Sept. 23 — Great battle on the coast of Scotland, between a flotilla 

of American and French vessels, commanded by Paul 

Jones, and two Br. frigates. One Br. and one Am. ship 

sunk. 
Oct. 9( — The Americans made an assault on Savannah, Geo., to re- 
take it from the English, but were repulsed. Count Pulaski 

and nearly 1,000 men were killed. 
Joseph Hews, of North Carolina, Thomas Lynch, of South 

Carolina, and George Eoss, of Pa., all signers of the Dec. 

of Independence, died this year. 

1780. 

Hay 6 — Fort Moultry, at Charleston, S. C, surrendered to the En- 
glish, who bombarded the city at the same time. 
" 12 — Charleston also surrendered. Gen. Lincoln and the troops 
under his command become prisoners of war, to the number 
of 2,500, with 400 cannon. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 439 

June 13 — Maj. Gen. Gates ordered by Congress to take command of 
the Southern department. 
m 23— Battle of Springfield, N. J. The British burnt the town. 
July 10 — A French fleet, with Count Kochambeau and 6,000 French 
soldiers on board, arrived at Ehode Island, for the purpose 
of assisting the Americans against England. 
Aug. 6 — Battle at Hanging Bock ; 600 Americans, under Sumpter, 
almost entirely destroyed. 
" 16 — Battle at Sanders' Creek, near Camden, S. C. Lord Corn- 
wallis commanding the English, and General Gates the 
Americans, who were defeated, and Baron DeKalb was 
mortally wounded. 
Sept. — The traitor Benedict Arnold agrees to surrender West 
Point, N. Y., to the English; Major Andre, the British offi- 
cer who negotiated with Arnold, was soon after captured 
and hung, and the plot failed. 
John Hart, of 1ST. J., a signer of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, died this year. 
" 21 — Major Andre, the British spy, landed in the night from 
the British ship Vulture, and proceeded to "West Point to 
confer with Arnold for the surrender of that post. 
{< 23 — Major Andre taken at Tarrvtown, and hung Oct. 2d. 
Oct. 7— Battle of King's Mountain," S. C. 300 British killed and 
wounded, 800 prisoners, and 1,500 stand of arms taken. 
" 25— Gen. Marion, of S. C, attacked 200 British and Tories, 
under Col. Tyne, killed and took one-half of them. 

1781. 

Jan. 17 — Battle of Cowpens, S. C. ; Col. Morgan commanding the 
American, and Col. Tarleton the English forces. Ameri- 
cans victorious. 

Feb. 23— Geo. Taylor, of Pa., and Feb. 28th, Richard Stockton, of 
N. J., signers of the Declaration of Independence, died. 

March 15 — Battle at Guilford Court House, N". C. ; Gen. Green com- 
manding the American, and Lord Cornwallis the English 
forces ; the latter victorious. Loss of both about equal. 

April 25 — Battle of Camden, S. C. ; Gen. Green commanding the 
American, and Lord Bawdon the English forces. The latter 
victorious. 

May 21 — The British fort Dreadnought succumbed to the Americans 
under General Lee. 
ic 28 — The U. S. frigate Alliance, 32 guns, Capt. Barry, captured 
the British sloops Atalanta, 16 guns and Trespasser, 14 guns. 

June 5 — Fort Cornwallis, at Augusta, Geo. surrendered to the Ameri- 
cans, with 300 men. 
" 20 — Lord Cornwallis evacuated Richmond, Va., and 

July 4 — Williamsburgh, Va. 



440 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Sept. 6 — Fort Griswold taken by the English, under the traitor Ar- 
nold, and the garrison put to the sword. Col. Ledyard, 
who commanded the fort, was run through with his own 
sword, after he had surrendered. The same day, New Lon- 
don, Conn., was burnt by the same infamous wretch. 
u 8— Battle of Eutaw Springs, S. C. ; General Green command- 
ing the American, and Col. Stewart the English forces. 

Oct. 19 — Battle of Yorktown, Va., when after several days' fighting, 
Lord Cornwallis with 7000 troops surrendered to Gen. Wash- 
ington. 
" 25— Colonel Willett, of N. Y., defeated 600 English troops, 
under Major Ross. 

Dec. 31 — Henry Laurens, TJ. S. Minister to France, was liberated 
from prison, in London, and exchanged for the British Gen. 
Burgoyne. 

1782. 

March 4 — Resolutions passed the English House of Commons in favor 
of peace between England and her American colonies, in con- 
sequence of which very few military operations were car- 
ried on this year. 

April 19 — The independence of the United States acknowledged by 
Holland. 

July 11 — The British evacuate Savannah, Geo., and Gen. Wayne 
took possession of it, who defeated a body of British troops 
near that city about the same time. 

Sept. 30 — Yorktown, Va., invested by the American and French ar- 
mies, under Washington and Rochambeau. 

Dec. 16 — The British burnt Fort Arbuthnot, and a new fort on Sul- 
livan's Island, S. C. 
" 20— The U. S. frigate Charleston, of 40 guns, was (after 18 
hours' chase), captured by the British ships Quebec and Di- 
omede. The first American 74-gun ship was built this year 
at Portsmouth, W. H. 

1783. 

Jan. 20 — Cessation of hostilities agreed upon between England and 
the United States. 

Feb. 5 — Independence of the U. States acknowledged by Sweden. 
u 25 — Independence of the United States acknowledged by Den- 
mark. 

March 24 — Independence of the United States acknowledged by 
Spain. 

July — Independence of the United States acknowledged by Russia. 

April 19 — Cessation of hostilities between England and the United 
States proclaimed just eight years from the day on which 
the Revolutionarv war commenced. Estimated loss of men 
in this war, 70,000. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 441 

June 18 — Washington announces to the Governors of the thirteen 
Colonies that he would soon resign the command of the 
army. 

July 21 — Three hundred of the Kevolutionary soldiers, with fixed 
hayonets, surrounded the building in which Congress was as- 
sembled, and demanded relief from their sufferings. 

Sept. 3 — Treaty of peace between England and the United States 
signed, and the independence of the United States acknowl- 
edged by the former. 

Oct. 18 — Proclamation for disbanding the U. S. army issued. 

Nov. 25 — New York evacuated by the English troops, and in Dec. 
they evacuated Charleston, S. C. 

Dec. 4 — Washington took leave of the officers of the American 
army in New York. 
" 24 — Washington resigns his office as commander-in-chief of 
the army, and delivered up his commission to Congress at 
Annapolis, and while it was in session, Caesar Rodney, of 
Delaware, one of the signers of the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence, died this year. 

1784. 

Feb. — First voyage from New York to China. 
Oct. 22 — Treaty between the United States and the six nations (of 
Indians) concluded at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, N. Y. 

1785. 

July 9 — Treaty between the United States and Prussia. 

" 13 — Stephen Hopkins, of Rhode Island, a signer of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, died. 

Nov. 28 — William Whipple, of New Hampshire, a signer of the 
Declaration of Independence, died. 

1786. 

June 19 — Gen Nathaniel Green, a distinguished officer of the Revo- 
lutionary war, died, aged 46. He was in the battles of 
Trenton, Princeton, Germantown, Monmouth, and Eutaw 
Springs, which closed the war at the South. 
This year was distinguished by a rebellion which broke out 
in the State of Mass., also in New Hampshire, called 
Shay's rebellion, on account of the heavy taxes which those 
States imposed on the people, to sustain their credit. 

1787. 

Jan. 1 — Arthur Middleton, of South Carolina, a signer of the Decla- 
ration of Independence, died. 
In July a largo extent of territory north of the Ohio river 
was formed into the Northwestern Territory. 



442 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Sept. 17 — The Constitution of the United States agreed upon in con- 
vention at Philadelphia. 

Oct. 5 — Thomas Stone, of Maryland, one of the signers of the Decla- 
ration of Independence, died. 

1788. 

Previous to, and during this year, eleven of the States adopted the 
United States Constitution. 

1789. 

Jan. 4— Thomas Kelson, of Virginia, a signer of the Declaration of 

Independence, died. 
Feb. 13 — Ethan Allen, one of the most distinguished Eevolutionary 

heroes, died. 
April 30 — Washington inaugurated the first President of the United 

States, and the government went into operation under the 

Constitution. 
July 4 — Congress passed the first act imposing duties on imported 

goods. 
i 27 — The Department and Secretary of "Foreign Affairs," 

created by act of Congress, but changed to Department and 

Secretary of State, in the following Sept. 
Aug. 7 — The Department and Secretary of War created by act of 

Congress. 
" 23— Silas Deane, U. S. Minister to France in 1776, died in Eng- 
land in extreme poverty 
Sept. 2 — The Department and Secretary of the Treasury created by 

act of Congress. 
Sept. 22 — The Post-Office Department temporarily established, and 

the office of Postmaster General created by a law of Con- 



" 24 — The act for the establishment of the Judicial system of the 
U. S. passed. By this act the U. S. Supreme Court, the 
Circuit and District Courts were created. Also the offices 
of the U. S. district attorneys and marshals. 
In this month, Congress passed (two-thirds of both houses 
concurring) a resolution, proposing ten amendments to the 
Constitution, which were adopted by three-fourths of the 
States. These are the ten first amendments to that instru- 
ment. 

1790. 

March 1 — Congress passed an act providing for taking the first Cen- 
sus this year. 
it 24 — First naturalization law passed. 
April 15 — First patent-right law passed. 

" 30 — Treason and piracy were defined by act of Congress, and 
death by hanging was made the penalty in both cases. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 443 

May 29 — U. S. Constitution adopted by Khode Island. 

" 31 — First act passed for securing copy-rights for the benefit of 

authors. 
Gen. Israel Putnam, one of the most intrepid officers of the 

Revolution, died this month. 
July 16 — Seat of government, which was at this time at New York, 

was by act of Congress removed to Philadelphia, where it 

was to remain till A. D. 1800, when it was to be permanently 

fixed at Washington. 
During this year, Virginia and Maryland ceded the District 

of Columbia to the United States as a location for the seat 

of government. 
Benjamin Franklin, of Pa., William Hooper, of N. C, and 

Francis Hopkinson, of N. J., all signers of the Declaration 

of Independence, died this year. 
Tennessee was formed into a Territorial government this 

year. 

1791. 

Feb. 25 — First United States Bank chartered by Congress, with a cap- 
ital not to exceed $10,000,000 ; charter to continue for 
twenty years. 

March 4 — Vermont admitted into the Union as a State, making the 
fourteenth State. 

Nov. 4 — General St. Clair attacked in camp by Indians, eighty miles 
north of Cincinnatti, O., and lost 600 out of 2,000 men. (See 
further. ) 

Dec. 20 — The First United States Bank commenced business in 
Philadelphia. 
This year, by act of Congress, a tax was laid on distilled 
spirits. This was the first attempt to raise revenue by inter- 
nal taxes. 
Benj. Harrison, of Va., one of the signers of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, died this year. 
During this and the preceding year, the country was invol- 
ved in a bloody war with the" Indians north of the Ohio river 

1792. 

Feb. 16 — Bounty to fishing vessels, first act for, passed. 

" 20 — An act permanently to establish post-offices and post- 
roads in the United States. 

April 2— The act for establishing the U. S. Mint at Philadelphia, 
passed, directing what pieces of coin should be made. 
u 14 — First act apportioning the Representatives in* Congress 
among the several States passed ; this was based on the first 
census, taken in 1790 

May 8 — First act of Congress, providing for a uniform militia system 
throughout the United States. 



444 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

June 1 — Kentucky admitted into the Union. She was the second 

admission, making the fifteenth State. 
Dec. 8 — Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, first President of the 

Continental Congress, died. 
In the autumn of this year, the second Presidential election 

occurred, wnen Washington was unanimously re-elected 

President, and John Adams Vice President. 

1793. 

Early in this year, Mr. Genet, Minister of the French Eepublic to 
the United States, arrived. But his conduct was so mis- 
chievous that President Washington requested the French 
government to recall him, which was done. 

Feb. 12 — First fugitive slave law passed. 

" 18 — The President's salary fixed by act of Congress at $25,000 
per year, where it has remained ever since. 

March 9 — It was enacted by Congress that every male citizen, be- 
tween the ages of 18 and 45, should be enrolled in the 
militia. 

July 23 — Roger Sherman, of Conn., one of the signers of the Decla- 
ration of Independence, died. 

Oct. 8 — John Hancock, of Mass., the first man who signed the Dec- 
laration of Independence, died. 

Dec. 31 — Thomas Jefferson resigned his office of Secretary of State. 

1794. 

March 22 — The law passed prohibiting the slave trade, which made 
it a crime to bring slaves into or take them out of the 
country. 
" 26 — Congress laid an embargo on all vessels in United States 
ports for 30 days, which was extended to 60 days. 
This year the eleventh amendment of the Constitution was 
recommended by resolution of Congress, which was adopted 
by the States. 

June 4 — The President was authorized by Congress to lay embargoes 
on all vessels in any of the ports of the United States, and to re- 
voke the same whenever he deemed it necessary for the in- 
terests of the country. 
" 19— Richard H. Lee, of Ya. ; Sept. — Abraham Clark, of N. 
H. ; and Nov. 15, John Witherspoon, of IS. J., three sign- 
ers of the Declaration of Independence, died. 

Aug. '19 — Battle of Maumee in Ohio when Gen. Wayne, with a 
force of 3,000 men, met and routed the Indians, and laid 
their country waste. 
In the autumnof this year, the whisky rebellion broke out 
in Pa. This was a resistance principally by the opponents 
of the administration to the law of Congress imposing a tax 
on the manufacture of whisky. 

Nov. 28 — Baron Steuben died atSteubenville, N. T., aged 61. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 445 

1795. 

Jan. 23 — Gen. Sullivan, a gallant and heroic officer of the Kevolu- 

tion, died. 
Jan. 29 — Congress passed an act establishing a uniform rule of 

naturalization, which was more stringent than a former 

law on the same subject. 
May 19 — Josiah Bartlett, of N. H., one of the signers of the Declara' 

tion of Independence, died. 
Nov. 28 — A peace was concluded with Algiers, with whom a short* 

naval war had been carried on by the United States this 

year. 

1796. 

Jan. 1 — By act of Congress, Tennessee was admitted as a State, mak- 
ing the 18th State. 
" 5 — Samuel Huntington, of Conn., a signer of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, died. 

June — Tennessee admitted as a State. 

Sept. — Washington issued his farewell address to the people of the 
U. S., having determined to retire from public life at the 
end of his second Presidential term of office. 
In the autumnof this year, the third Presidential election 
took place, which resulted in the choice of John Adams. 

Dec. 14 — Gen Wayne, commander-in-chief of the United States 
forces, died at Presque Isle, aged 51. 

1797. 

March 4 — John Adams inaugurated the second President. 

June 14 — Congress enacted that no citizen of the United States 
should engage in privateering against any nation in amity 
with us. 
Francis L. Lee, of Va., Carter Braxton, of Va., and Oliver 
Walcot, of Conn., all signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, died this year. 
During this year the French Republic became exasperated 
at the United States because they refused to act with France 
against England, these two powers being then at war. 
France carried her spiteful feelings so far as to drive our 
minister, Mr. Pinckney. out of the country. She also au- 
thorized the capture and confiscation of American vessels. 
This state of things came near involving the two nations in 
a war ; but fortunately it was soon afterwards settled. 

1798. 

April 3 — The Navy Department created by act of Congress. Up to 
this time we had no Davy Nepartment. 
" 7 — Mississippi organized into a Territorial government. 



446 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

April 25 — An act of Congress authorized the President to order any 
alien to leave the country whom he had reasonable grounds 
to believe was here for treasonable purposes. 

July 7 and 9 — Congress authorize the capture of French vessels • 
and all treaties with France were declared void. But these 
difficulties were soon after settled by treaty. 
" — Under an apprehension that there would be war with France, 
Gen. Washington was again appointed commander-in chief 
of the army. 
During this and the ensuing year, the alien and sedition 
laws were passed. These laws rendered John Adams' ad^ 
ministration very unpopular. 
Lewis Morris, of N. Y., James Wilson, of Pa., and Geo. 
Eead, of Del., all signers of the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, died this year. 

1799. 

Feb. 9— Battle between the United States frigate Constitution, of 36 
guns, Capt. Truxton, and the French frigate Insurgent, of 
48 guns and 410 men. The Insurgent was captured. 
By act of Congress, commercial intercourse w 7 ith France 
was prohibited. Our ships were not allowed to enter 
French ports. 
Dec. 19 — Washington died in the 68th year of his age. 

William Paea, of Maryland, one of the signers of the De- 
claration of Independence, died this year. 

1800. 

Jan. 23 — Edward Eutledge, of S. C, one of the signers of the De- 
claration of Independence, died. 

Feb. 1 — Battle between the United States frigate Constitution, Capt. 
Truxton, and the French frigate La Vengeance. La Yen- . 
geance whipped. 

April 4 — An act establishing a uniform system of bankruptcy 
throughout the United States, passed by Congress. 

May 7. — Congress pass an act to organize the Territory of Indiana. 
In the summer of this year the seat of government was re- 
moved to Washington, and the Mississippi Territory was 
organized into a Territorial government. 

SeDt. 30 — A treaty was concluded between the United States and 
France, now in the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the 
long-standing difficulties between the two countries were 
amicably settled. 
In the autumn of this year, the fourth Presidential election 
occurred, resulting in the choice of Thomas Jefferson. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 447 

1801. 

March 4 — Thomas Jefferson inaugurated the fourth President of the 

United States. 
June 10 — The Bashaw of Tripoli, one of the petty princes of the 

Barbary States in the north of Africa, declared war against 

the United States. 
" 14 — Benedict Arnold, the traitor, died in London. 

1802. 

Jan. 14 — An act apportioning the Representatives in Congress 
among the States, based on the census of 1800, by which a 
member was allowed for every 33,000 population. 
Ohio was admitted into the Union this year, making the 17th 
State. 

April 14 — Congress pass a new naturalization law, repealing all for- 
mer laws on this subject. 

May 3 — The city of Washington incorporated by act of Congress. 

In October, the Spanish Governor of Louisiana (which be- 
longed to Spain at this time), closed the port of New Or- 
leans against the United States. 

1803. 

Oct. 31 — The United States frigate Philadelphia, Capt. Bainbridge, 
ran on a rock in the harbor of Tripoli, when the Tripolitans 
captured her. The Philadelphia was one of a number of 
U. S. ships sent into the Mediterranean sea to punish the 
Tripolitans for their piratical depredations upon our com- 
merce. 

Dec. 20 — The United States took possession of Louisiana, which 
they had bought this year of Prance, for $15,000,000. 
Matthew Thornton, of N". Y., Samuel Adams, of Mass., and 
Francis Lewis, of N. Y., all signers of the Dec. of Inde- 
pendence, died this year. 

1804. 

Feb. 2— George Walton of Georgia ; and May 11, Robert Treat 
Paine, of Mass., signers of the Dec. of Independence died. 
" 3 — Lieut. Decatur of the U. S. navy, with a small schooner, in 
the night, ran into the harbor of Tripoli, and burnt the U. 
S. frigate Philadelphia, which had been captured by the 
Tripolitans. 

July 12 — Gen. Alexander Hamilton died of a wound received in a 
duel with Aaron Burr, the Vice-President of the U. S. 

Aug. 3 — Com. Preble, commanding the American squadron in the 
Mediterranean sea. had a severe action with several Tripol- 
itan gun-boats, and captured a number of them; and then, 
in this, and the following months, ho bombarded Tripoli 
several times. 



448 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Sept. 12 — The American squadron in the Mediterranean sea captured, 
near Tripoli, two vessels loaded with wheat, for the city. 

Nov. 18— Gen. Philip Schuyler died at Albany, N. Y. 

In the fall of this year, the fifth Presidential election took 
place, at which Jefferson was re-elected for President, and 
George Clinton, of New York, Vice-President. 

1805. 

June 3 — A treaty of peace was made with Tripoli, and the American 
prisoners liberated. 
This year Michigan, which was a part of the great north- 
western territory, became distinct, Congress having estab- 
lished a Territorial government for it. 

June 11 — Mich. Territory organized into a Territorial government. 

Sept. 27 — William Moultry, a distinguished officer of the Eevolution, 
who so bravely defended Sullivan's Island, in 1776, died. 

1806. 

April 10 — Gen. Gates, a very distinguished General in the Revolu- 
tionary war, died in New York. 

May 8 — Robert Morris, of Pa.; June 8, George "Wythe, of Va.; July 
11, James Smith, of Pa., all signers of the Dec. of Inde- 
pendence, died. 

Oct. 25 — Henry Knox, a major-general in the Revolutionary war, 
and Secretary of War under Washington, died. 

1807. 

Feb. 10 — The United States coast survey ordered by act of Congress. 

Mar. 2 — Congress enacted a law prohibiting the slave trade from 
Africa or any other country, after 1808. 

June 22 — The British ship Leopard attacked the American frigate 
Chesapeake, and took four men out of her, claiming them as 
British subjects: this, and other similar acts, led to the war 
of 1812 with England. 

July 2 — President Jefferson ordered all British ships of war, in any 
of the American waters, to leave. 
During this year, Col. Aaron Burr was tried for treason, but 
the proof was insufficient to convict him. 

Aug. 25 — Cora. Preble of the United States navy, who subdued 
Tripoli, died. 

Nov. 26— Oliver Ellsworth, Chief Justice of the United States, died. 

Dec. 17 — The Milan decrees issued by Napoleon Bonaparte, dena- 
tionalizing all vessels that submitted to the British order in 
council; this led to the capture of American vessels by 
French cruisers, and came near causing a war between the 
United States and Prance. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 449 

Dec. 22 — Congress laid an embargo on all the shipping of the United 
States. This was done in retaliation towards England and 
France for their unfriendly acts toward us. But this anni- 
hilated all our foreign commerce; became unpopular, and 
was repealed in 1809. 

1808. 

Jan. 1 — The act of Congress, passed in 1804, abolishing the slave 
trade, went into effect this day. 

1809. 

Feb. 3 — Illinois organized into a Territorial government. 

Mar, 1 — Congress repealed the embargo it laid on all American ves- 
sels, Dec. 22, 1807. 
" 4 — James Madison inaugurated, the fourth President. 
" 9 — Thomas Haywood, of South Carolina, one of the signers of 
the Dec. of Independence, died. And on the 26th of Oct., 
John Penn, another of them, died. 

Aug. 9 — President Jefferson, on receipt of information that the late 
treaty with England was not ratified, suspended all inter- 
course with that country 

1810. 

Mar. 23 — Napoleon Bonaparte, who, at this time, was at the head 
of the French government, issued a decree by which all 
American vessels and cargoes arriving in any French ports, 
were ordered to be seized and condemned; but in the follow- 
ing Nov., this and all other hostile decrees were revoked. 

1811. 

Feb. 26 — Naval hospitals established by act of Congress. 

May 16 — Naval action between the U. States ship President and the 
English ship Little Bett, which was captured. 

June 1 — Gen. W. Eaton died, distinguished for his heroic conduct in 
the expedition against Tripoli. 

June 19 — Samuel Chase, a Judge of the Supreme Court, died; he was 
also one of the signers of the Dec. of Independence. 

Aug. 2 — Williams, of Conn., another of the signers, died. 

Nov. 7 — The frontier Indians at this time were very hostile to the 
United States; and on this day they attacked our troops 
commanded by Gen. Harrison, at Tippecanoe^" a bloody bat- 
tle ensued, and the Indians were defeated. 

Dec. 2 — The third apportionment of Representatives among the sev- 
eral States, based on the census of 1810, by which one Rep* 
resentative was allowed for every 35,000 people. 

15 



450 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

1812. 

Mar. 4 — The charter of the United States Bank expired by its own 

limitation. 
April 4 — Congress laid an embargo on all vessels in the ports of the 
United States. This was done in anticipation of a war with 
England. 

" 8 — Louisiana admitted into the Union, making the 18th State. 

u 20 — George Clinton, Yice-President of the U. States, died. 

" 25 — The General Land Office established at Washington. 

" 29 — The U. S. frigate Essex, Capt. Porter, captured two Eng- 
lish ships in the Pacific ocean. 
June 4 — Missouri organized into a Territorial government. 

" 18 — The President, in conformity with an act of Congres* 
passed a few days before, declared war with England. 
July 12 — Gen. Hull, with 2,000 troops, invades Canada. 
Aug. 8 — Gen. Hull, with his troops, evacuates Canada, and crosses 
over to Detroit. 

" 9 — Major YanHorn met a few British and Indians under the 
famous chief Tecumseh, and routed them with considerable 
loss. 

" 15 — The British Gen. Brock summoned the city of Detroit to 
surrender, which summons Gen. Hull, moved with cowardice 
or treason, basely obeyed. 

" 15 — Battle of Port Chicago ; which, after a bloody contest, sur- 
rendered to the Indians. The men and women were all 
murdered after the surrender. 

" 19 — The American frigate Constitution, of 44 guns, Capt. Hull, 
engaged the English frigate Guerrier, and in half an hour 
the Guerrier lost half her men and was a wreck. 
Oct. 13 — Queenstown, Upper Canada, captured by the U. S. troops 
under Gen. Solomon YanKenssalaer ; but the English were 
reinforced and recaptured it. They were commanded by 
Gen. Brock, who was killed in this battle. 

u 18 — The U. S. sloop of war "Wasp, Capt. Jones, captured the 
British brig Frolic, on the coast of North Carolina, after a 
bloody fight of three-fourths of an hour ; but both were re- 
captured the same day by an English 74-gun ship. 

" 25 — The frigate United States, Capt. Decatur, engaged with the 

English frigate Macedonian, which struck her colors after 

an action of two hours. This occurred west of the Canary 

Islands. 

Nov. 22 — The British frigate Southampton captured the U. S. brig 

Yixen, after a severe action. 
Dec. 29 — TheTJ . S. frigate Constitution, Com. Bainbridge, captured 
the British frigate Java, and burned her off the coast of 
Brazil. 
During this year, our men-of-war and privateers captured 
nearly 300 English vessels — a year of blood and devastation! 
Horrid war! 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 451 

1813. 

Jan. 17 — The English frigate Narcissus captured the U. S. brig 
Vixen, 12 guns. 
" 18 — A detachment of TJ. S. troops, under Cols. Lewis and Al- 
len, attacked Frenchtown, (now Monroe,) in Mich., and 
routed the English troops there. 
u 22 — The British troops and Indians, under Gen. Proctor, at- 
tacked the Americans in the same place, who surrendered 
upon conditions, which were basely violated by the Englisk. 
" 23 — Geo. Clymer, of Pa., one of the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence, died. 
Feb. 8— The U. S*. Govt, borrowed $16,000,000 to carry on the war. 
?' 24 — Naval battle off the coast of Demarara, between the U. S. 
sloop of war Hornet, Capt. Lawrence, and the British brig 
Peacock, which was sunk in fifteen minutes. 
Mar. 14 — The Delaware river blockaded by several English ships. 
April 19 — Benj. Kush, of Pa., a celebrated physician and statesman, 
and one of the signers of the Dec. of Independence, died. 
11 27 — The Americans, under Gen. Pike, capture York, (now 
Toronto,) Canada, with a large quantity of public property. 
May 1 — The British Gen. Proctor attacked Fort Meigs, Ohio, com- 
manded by Gen. Harrison. 
" 5 — Gen. Celay's troops attacked the besiegers and dispersed 

them; but, 
" 8 — while in pursuit, were themselves captured. 
" 20 — The U. S. frigate Congress, Capt. Smith, captured the Eng- 
lish brig Jean; and on the 22d, the brig Diana, of 10 guns. 
" 27 — The English troops, under Sir George Prevost, attack Sock- 
et's Harbor, N. Y., but were repulsed; and, on the same 
day, the Americans took Port George on the Niagara river. 
June 1 — The U. S. frigate Chesapeake, Capt. Lawrence, was cap- 
tured by the British frigate Shannon, after a terrible and 
bloody battle; Capt. Lawrence, and almost every officer on 
board, was killed. 
" 20 — The English made an attack on Oswego, N. Y., but were 

repulsed. 
" 25 — The British Admiral, Cockburn, ordered the village of 
Hampton, Va., to be pillaged. 
July 31— -Pittsburgh, N. Y., taken by the British. 

" 31 — Com. Chauncey took York, Upper Canada, and carried off 
the stores of the English army. 
Aug. 2 — The English attack our fort at Sandusky, Ohio, but were 
bravely repulsed by the Americans, under Major Crogan. 
" 2 — Congress laid a direct tax of $3,000,000, and apportioned it 
among the several States. This was done to support the 
war with England at this time. 

for a time Postmaster Gen., died, aged (35. 



452 ^OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Aug. 13 — The Br. ship Alert attacked the TJ. S. frigate Essex, but 
struck her colors in eight minutes. 

" 14 — The U. S. brig Argus was captured, after a severe battle with 
the British brig Pelican. 

a 30 — A party of Creek Indians capture Fort Mims, in Ala., 
and massacre nearly 300 men, women and children. 
Sept. 5 — The Br. ship Boxer, after a fight of forty minutes, surren- 
dered to the American brig Enterprise, on the coast of Maine. 

" 10 — Battle on Lake Erie between the nine TJ. S. vessels com- 
manded by Com. Perry, and a squadron of six English, 
commanded by Com. Barclay, all of which surrendered to 
Com. Perry. 

" 27 — Gen. Harrison took Maiden, in Upper Canada, evacuated 
by the English, under Gen. Proctor. 
Oct. 5 — Battle of the Thames, (Upper Canada) eighty miles from 
Detroit. Here the great Indian chief Tecumseh, who was 
confederate with the English, was slain. Gen. Harrison 
commanded the U. States troops, and Gen Proctor the Br., 
who were nearly all killed or taken prisoners. 

" 25 — Battle between the U. S. frigate Congress, Capt. Smith, and 
the British ship Kose, which was destroyed. 
Nov. 3 — Col. Coffee attacked 200 of the Creek Indians, and killed 
every one of them in retaliation for what they had done at 
Port Mims. A number of battles with the Creeks followed 
this, during this and the next year, and in Jan. 1814, in 
which nearly all their warriors were killed, and thus ended 
the Creek war. 

u 11 — Battle of "Williamsburgh, Canada. American loss 300; 
English less than 200. 
Dec. 13 — Congress laid an embargo on all ships and vessels in all the 
ports of the United States. This was to cut off trade with 
England. 

" 19 — Port Niagara captured by the British, with 250 men and 25 
cannon ; and, on the same day, Lewistown and Tuscarora 
villages, N. Y., were burnt by the Indians. 

u 30— Buffalo and Black Bock, burnt by the British. 

1814. 

Mar. 24 — Congress authorized the President to borrow $25,000,000, to 
cary on the war with England. 
" 28 — The U. S. frigate Essex, Capt, Porter, was captured in the 
harbor of Valparaiso by two British men-of-war. 
April 24 — The British took Washington, and burnt the public 
buildings. 
" 29 — Battle between the U. S. sloop-of-war Peacock, and the 
English man-of-war Empervier, which was captured with 
$118,000 in money. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 453 

May 6 — The English, under Gen. Drummond, attacked Oswego, N. 

Y. ; the Americans had to retreat. 
June 9 — The U. S. brig Eattlesnake, Lieut. Eenshaw, captured the 

British ship John. 
" 28 — The sloop-of-war Wasp, Capt. Blakeley, captured the Brit- 
ish sloop Reindeer, in nineteen minutes. 
July 3 — The Americans take Fort Erie from the English. 

" 4 — Battle of Chippewa, in Canada. U. S. troops, under Gen. 

Scott, victorious. 
(< 24 — Battle of Bridgewater, (or Lundy's Lane) near Niagara 

Palls. Gen. Scott, commanding U. S. forces was victorious. 
Aug. 3 — The British crossed Niagara river to attack Buffalo, but 

were repulsed by 250 riflemen, under Morgan. 
" 8 — First meeting of U. S. and English commissioners at Ghent, 

(in Belgium) to treat for peace, and a treaty was concluded 

and signed on the 24 Dec. following. 
11 9 — 10 — 11 — Stonington, Conn., bombarded by the British. 
" 15 — The British attack Fort Erie, but were severely repulsed by 

Gen. Gaines, who commanded the TJ. S. troops, with a loss 

of nearly 1,000 men. 
" 25 — Washington evacuated by the British troops under command 

of Gen. Ross and Admiral Cockburn. 
11 30 — Alexandria, Va., capitulated to the British army, and'deliv- 

ered up the public property and shipping to save the city 

from being burnt. 
Sept. 1 — The U. S. sloop-of-war Wasp, Capt. Blakeley, fell in with 

ten British vessels, convoyed by a 74-gun ship — Capt. B. 

sunk one and burnt another. 
" 6 — 11 — Battle of Plattsburgh, or Lake Champlain — for it was 

on both land and water — Com. McDonough commanding the 

American fleet, and Com. Downie the English, whose loss 

was nearly 2,500 men. 
" 12 — 13 — 14 — Battles three days in succession, near Baltimore, one 

of which is called the battle of Baltimore, and the other the 

battle of Fort McHenry — Gen. Ross, the English comman- 
der, was killed the first day. 
Nov. 7 — Pensacola (Fla.) taken by Gen. Jackson. 

" 23 — Elbridge Gerry, of Mass., once Vice President, died. 

In Dec, of this year, the celebrated Hartford convention 

met. 

1815. 

Jan. 8 — Battle of New Orleans— Gen. Jackson commanding the U. 
States troops, 6,000 in number; Gen. Paekenham the Eng- 
lish, 12,000 in number. Paekenham and 700 of his officers 
and men were slain, and 1,000 wounded; and, astonishing to 
say, only seven Americans were killed and six wounded. 
This closed the second war with England on tho land ; yet 



454 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

there were a number of naval battles after this, because the 
, news of peace was not heard in time to prevent them. 
Jan. 15 — The U. S. frigate President, Com. Decatur, was captured by 

four English ships, after a chase of 18 hours. 
Feb. 11 — Fort Boyer, at Mobile, with a garrison of 375 men, sur- 
rendered to 5,000 English troops, under Lambert, with a 
fleet of thirteen ships. « 

a 18 — Treaty of peace concluded at Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814, ratified 

by the U. S. Senate. 
" 24 — The Secretary of the Treasury was authorized by Congress 

to issue $25,000,000 in Treasury notes. 
" 28 — Battle between the U. S. frigate Constitution, Capt. Stewart, 
and the English frigate Cyane, and sloop Levant, and both 
of them were captured by the Constitution, off the island of 
Maderia. 
Mar. 3 — Congress declares war against Algiers, in Africa; and dur- 
ing this month the TJ. S. frigate Hornet captured the Brit- 
ish brig Penguin, off the Coast of Brazil. 
May 3 — James McHenry, one of the signers of the Declaration of 

Independence, died at Baltimore. 
June 17 — Commodore Decatur, in the Mediterranean sea, captured 
% an Algerian frigate of 46 guns. A treaty was thereupon 
negotiated between the United States and Algiers ; after 
which, these piratical barbarians behaved themselves. 
11 30— The U. S. vessel Peacock had a fight with the British ship 
Nautilus, which surrendered in fifteen or twenty minutes. 
This took place in the straits of Sunda. 

1816. 

In this year the second U. S. Bank was chartered, with a 
capital of $35,000,000, to continue twenty years. 

Indiana, (a part of the great north-western territory,) was ad- 
mitted as a State this year — making the 19th State. 
Nov. 5 — Gouverneur Morris, an eminent statesman, died at Morris- 
sania, near New York. 

1817. 

Mar. 3—^By a law passed this day, all American citizens were en- 
joined to observe our neutrality laws, and forbidden from 
rendering any aid to any nation which was at war with any 
other nation at peace with us. 
" 4 — James Monroe, the fifth President, inaugurated. 

June 24 — Thomas McKean, of Del., one of the signers of the Decla- 
ration of Independence, died. 

December — The Mississippi Territory was divided, and the western 
part admitted as a State, making the twentieth ; and the 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 455 

eastern part organized into a Territorial government, by 
the name of the Territory of Alabama. 
In the latter part of this year, the Creek and Seminole In- 
dians committed depredations in Georgia and Alabama, 
when Generals Gaines and Jackson were sent to subdue 
them. 

1818. 

May 24 — Gen. Jackson took Pensacola, Fla., from the Spaniards, 
and sent the authorities to Havana. This was done during 
his campaign against the Seminole and Creek Indians. 
Cl 25 — Gen. Mitchell, of the Revolutionary war, died. 
Dec. 3 — Illinois admitted into the Union — making the twenty-first 
I State. 

" Dec. 10 — Mississippi admitted as a State, by resolution of both 
houses of Congress. 

1819. 

Mar. 2 — Arkansas formed into a Territorial government. 
Dec. 14 — Alabama admitted into the Union — making the twenty- 
second State. 

1820. 

Feb. 15 — ¥m. Ellery, of Rhode Island, a signer of the Declaration 
of Independence, died. 

March 15 — Maine admitted into the Union — making the twenty- 
third State. 

Aug. 23 — Com. Perry, the hero of the battle on Lake Erie, died of 
yellow fever at Trinidad, West Indies, on his birth-day. 

October— Florida ceded by Spain to the United States for $5,000,000. 
The question of the admission of Missouri as a free or slave 
State greatly agitated the country this year. The famous 
" Missouri Compromise " settled the question. 

1821. 

Mar. 4 — James Monroe inaugurated upon his second term of the 

Presidency, and D. D. Tompkins upon his second term of 

the Vice Presidency. 
Mar. 22 — Com. Stephen Decatur died at Washington. 
July 1 — Gen. Jackson took possession of Florida. 
Aug. 4 — Wm. Floyd, of New York, a signer of the Declaration of 

Independence, died. 
Missouri was admitted this year — making the twenty-fourth 

State. 



456 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

1822. 

March 7 — Congress again apportions the Representatives in Congress 
among the several States, based on the census of 1820. By 
this act the ratio of representation was fixed at one Repre- 
sentative to 40,000 persons. 
11 30 — Florida was formed into a Territorial government. 

May 5 — Thomas Truxton, a distinguished naval officer, both in the 
Revolutionary war and in our short war with France, died. 
" 8 — Gen. Stark, a prominent officer of the Eevolutionary war, 
died. 

Oct. 27 — William Lowndes, a distinguished statesman of South Car- 
olina, died at sea. 
During this year, gangs of pirates infested the "West Indies, 
committing depredations upon our commerce, when the 
United States government sent a naval force to destroy 
them. It captured over twenty piratical vessels. 

1823. 

This year Com. Porter broke up and dispersed the remainder 
of the piratical gangs in the West India Islands, who had 
withstood the onslaught which our government had made 
upon them last year. 

1824. 

March 13 — A convention at which the United States and England 
were represented, was held for the purpose of adopting mea- 
sures to suppress the slave trade. 

April — United States and Russian commissioners met to settle the 
north-western boundaries between the two countries. 

Aug. 24 — Lafayette arrived from France, and made a tour through 
the country. 

Oct. 29 — Charles Pinckney, of South Carolina, an eminent orator and 
statesman, and one of the framers of the Constitution, died. 
The tenth Presidential election took place in the fall of this 
year; but there was no choice by the people, and the elec- 
tion went to the House of Representatives, when John Q. 
Adams was elected. 

1825. 

Mar. 3 — An act to establish a-navy yard on the coast of Fla. passed. 

" 4 — John Quincy Adams, the sixth President, inaugurated. 
June 11 — Daniel D. Tompkins, of N. Y., an ex-Vice-President, died. 
Nov. 10 — Com. McDonough, who commanded the U. S. fleet at the 

battle of Plattsburgh, on Lake Champlain, in 1814, died at 

Middletown, Conn. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 457 

1826. 

July 4 — John Adams, aged 91, and Thomas Jefferson, both of whom 
had been Presidents of the United States, and both signers 
of the Dec. of Independence, died. 

1827. 

"We find nothing in the history of the United States worthy 
of particular notice during this year. We were at peace 
"with all the world and the rest of mankind;" there was 
very little political excitement, and the country was pros- 
perous and happy under the good administration of good 
President John Quincy Adams. 

1828. 

Feb. 11 — DeWitt Clinton died, while in the ofiice of the Governor 
of New York. 
A new protective tariff was enacted this year, with a view to 

encourage American manufactures. 
The eleventh Presidential election took place in the autumn of 
this year, and resulted in the choice of Andrew Jackson. 

1829. 

Jan. 29 — Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State under "Washington 
and Adams, died. 

Feb. 29 — The Virginia House of Delegates passed a resolution deny- 
ing the right of Congress to pass the tariff. 

Mar. 4 — Andrew Jackson, the seventh President, inaugurated, and 
John C. Calhoun entered upon his second term as V. Prest. 

May 19 — A treaty of peace, friendship, commerce and navigation, 
between the U. States and Brazil, ratified at Washington. 

May 17 — John Jay died at Bedford, N. Y. He was one of the Pres- 
idents of the Continental Congress, minister to Spain and to 
England, Governor of New York, and Chief Justice of the 
United States. 

June 4 — The U. S. frigate Fulton blown up at the navy yard, Brook- 
lyn ; 26 lives lost. 

Aug. 12 — Mr. McLane, minister to England, and Mr. Kives, minis- 
ter to France, embark in the U. S. frigate Constitution, at 
New York. 

Nov. 26 — The Hon. Bushrod Washington, one of tho Judges of the 
U. S. Supreme Court, died. 

1830. 

May 7 — A treaty signed at Constantinople, between the United States 



458 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

and Turkey, by which the United States obtained the free 

navigation of the Black Sea. 
May 29 — The office of Solicitor of the Treasury created by act of 

Congress. 
Aug. 4 — Gen. Philip Stuart, an officer of the Kevolution, died at 

Washington. 

1831. 

Jan. 10 — The disputed northern boundary line, between the United 
States and England, settled by the king of the Netherlands, 
to whom the matter had been referred. 

April 19 — Dissolution of President Jackson's cabinet. 

July 4 — James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, died 
at New York, aged 73. 

Aug. 25 — An eulogy on James Monroe delivered at Boston, by John 
Quincy Adams. 

Sept. 26 — The national anti-Masonic convention, at Baltimore, nom- 
inated William Wirt for President. 

Oct. 1 — A free-trade convention met at Philadelphia. 

" 26 — A tariff convention of over 500 delegates met at New York 
and adopted a memorial to Congress. 

Nov. 5 — Gen. Philip YanCourtlandt, an officer of the Revolutionary 
war, died at New York, aged 82. 

Dec. 14 — The national Republican party assembled at Baltimore, and 
nominated Henry Clay for President. 

1832. 

Jan. 25 — The Senate, by the casting vote of the President, refused to 
confirm the nomination of Martin VanBuren as United 
States minister to England. 

Mar. 3 — The United States Supreme Court decided that the law of 
Georgia, by which several missionaries to the Indians in that 
State were imprisoned for four years in the penitentiary, 
was contrary to the laws and treaties of the United States, 
and therefore null and void. 

April 1 — A war broke out between the United States and the Win- 
nebago Indians, called the Black Hawk war. 
" 2 — Treaty concluded with the Creek Indians, by which they 
sell all their lands east of the Mississippi river to the United 
States. 

May 5 — The treaty respecting commerce, navigation, and the boun- 
dary line between the United States and Mexico, ratified at 
Washington. 
" 21 — Com. Bogers died on board his ship off Buenos Ayres. 
" 22 — Martin Yan Buren nominated by the Democrats, at Balti- 
more, for Yice President of the United States. 
" 27 — An act apportioning the Representatives in Congress, based 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 459 

on the fifth census, in which the ratio between Representa- 
tives and population was fixed at one Representative to 47,- 
700 people. 
June 1 — Gen. Thomas Sumpter, an officer in the Revolutionary war, 

died in South Carolina. 
July 9 — The office of Commissioner of Indian Affairs created by 
act of Congress. 

11 10 — An act to establish naval hospitals at Charlestown, Mass., 
Brooklyn, N. Y., and Pensacola, Fla., passed. 

" " — President Jackson vetoed the bill re-chartering the United 
States Bank. 
Aug. 27 — Black Hawk, the celebrated Indian chief and warrior, 

captured. 
Nov. 12 — The anti-tariff convention meetatMilledgeville, Geo. 

" 14 — Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Md., died. He was the 
last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. 

" 19 — A convention of delegates in South Carolina meet at Co- 
lumbia, and pass an ordinance declaring the laws of Con- 
gress, in relation to the tariff, unconstitutional and void. 
Dec. 10 — President Jackson issues his proclamation, denouncing the 
proceedings of the South Carolina convention, and warning 
the people of that State of the consequences of following its 
dictates. 

" 18 — Treaty of commerce and navigation concluded between 
the United States and Russia, at St. Petersburgh. 

" 20 — Gov. Hayne, of South Carolina, issues a proclamation in 
answer to that of President Jackson. 

" 28 — John C. Calhoun, the Vice President, resigns his office. 
The twelfth Presidential election occurred this fall, when An- 
drew Jackson was re-elected. 

1833. 

Mar. 1 — The new tariff bill passed, called the compromise act. 
" 4 — Andrew Jackson inaugurated upon his second term. 
" 10 — Com. Samuel Tucker, of Maine, died. 
" 31 — The Treasury Department building burnt at "Washington. 
June 1 — Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury under Washing- 
ton, died. 
July 27 — Com. Bainbridge died, aged 60. 

Sept. 23 — Wm. J. Duane, Secretary of the Treasury, was removed 
from his office by President Jackson, because he declined to 
remove the United States deposits from the U. S. Bank ; 
and Roger B. Taney, of Md., was appointed in his place, 
who removed them on the first of October. 

1834. 

Mar. 28 — The United States Sonate passed a vote of censure of Pre- 



460 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

sident Jackson, for removing the government deposits from 
the United States Bank. 
Sept. 15 — Wm. H. Crawford, of Georgia, died. He was an eminent 
statesman, and a candidate for the Presidency in 1824. 

1835. 

Jan. 1 — Hugh L. White nominated for President of the United 
States by the Legislature of Alabama. 
" 31 — Daniel Webster nominated for the same office, by the 
Legislature of Massachusetts. 

Mar. 3 — By act of Congress three branch mints were established ; 
one at New Orleans, one at Charlotte, N. C, and one at 
Dahlohnega, Ga. 

May 14 — A treaty concluded with the Cherokee Indians, in which 
they agreed to sell all their lands east of the Mississippi 
river for $5,202,251, and retire to the Indian Territory west 
of the Mississippi river. 
" 20 — A convention of the Democratic party met at Baltimore, 
and nominated Martin Yan Buren for President. 

July 6 — Chief Justice John Marshall died, aged 80. 

Aug. 30 — Wm. T. Barry, Postmaster General under Gen. Jackson, 
died at Liverpool, on his way to Spain, as U. S. Minister. 

Dec. 28 — Battle of Tampa Bay, Fla., between a company of 110 U. 
S. troops under Major Dade, when all but three of his men 
were killed. About the same time another battle with 

the Indians was fought at Withlacoochie, Fla., and forty of 
them were slain. In this and the following year, the Semi- 
nole war raged in Florida. The Indians, under their chief 
Osceola, were finally driven out of their country, and across 
the Mississippi river. This war cost the United States $15,- 
000,000 — three times the money originally paid for Florida. 

1836. 

Jan. 20 — A treaty of peace, friendship and navigation concluded 
between the United States and Venezuela, at Caraccas. 

February — The U. S. Bank was chartered by the Legislature of 
Pennsylvania. 

April 20 — Wisconsin organized into a Territorial government. 

May 23 — Edward Livingston, Secretary of State under President 
Jackson, died. 

June 15 — Michigan admitted — making the 25th State. 
" " — Arkansas admitted — making the 26th State. 
" 23 — State banks made the depositories of the United States 
moneys, instead of the U. S. Bank ; and by the same act, 
the surplus funds of the government were loaned to the sev- 
eral States in proportion to their Representatives in Con- 
gress. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 461 

June 28 — James Madison, ex-President of the United States, died, 
aged 86. 

July 4 — The office of Commissioner of Patents created. 

Sept. 14 — Aaron Burr, ex-Vice President of the United States, died, 
aged 81. 

D ec , 15— The General Post Office, the Patent Office, and the Wash- 
ington Post Office burnt — 7,000 models, 163 large folio vol- 
umes of records, 9,000 valuable drawings, and 10,000 origi- 
nal descriptions destroyed. 
During this year, in addition to the war with the Seminole In- 
dians, the United States were at war with the Creek Indians, 
in Geo., but it was terminated this year. 
The thirteenth Presidential election in the autumn of this year, 
and Martin Yan Buren was elected. 

1837. 

Jan. 16 — The United States Senate passed a resolution, 24 to 19, to 
■ expunge from its records (by drawing black lines around 
it,) the resolution passed March 28, 1834, viz. : that the 
President (Jackson) in the lateExecutiveproceedings, in re- 
lation to the public revenue, had assumed authority not con- 
ferred by the Constitution or law, but derogatory to both. 

Mar. 4 — Martin Van Buren inaugurated the eighth President. 
" 6 — A treaty was signed by the Seminole Indians, agreeing to 
emigrate west of the Mississippi river, but through the influ- 
ence of their chief, Osceola, they broke it ; after which he 
was seized by Gen. Jessup, and confined in Port Moultrie, 
where he died. 

Sept. 29 — By treaty between the United States and the Sioux In- 
dians, they sold all their lands east of the Mississippi river 
(about 5,000,000 acres,) for $1,000,000. 

Oct. 1— The Winnebago Indians did the same thing for $1,500,000, 
and agreed to move west of the Mississippi river. 
ic 12 — Congress authorize the issue of $10,000,000 Treasury notes. 
" 2o — A severe battle was fought with the Florida Indians, but 
the U. S. troops, under Gen. Taylor, defeated them. 
All the banks in the United States suspended specie payment 
during this year, which greatly embarrassed the govern- 
ment; and the President called an extra session of Congress, 
which passed an act to issue $10,000,000 of Treasury notes, 
as a measure of relief. 

1838. 

Jan. 5. — President Van Buren issued a proclamation to the people of 
the United States, warning them not to violate our neutrality 

laws, by taking part in the rebellion of the Canadians 
against the English government, at this time. 



462 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

June 12 — Territorial government of Iowa organized. 

Aug. 19 — The United States exploring expedition sailed from Hamp- 
ton Koads, Va., with six vessels, their officers, and a corps 
of scientific men, for the purpose of exploring the Arctic re- 
gions. 
Near the close of this year the Cherokee Indians, of Georgia, 
completed their emigration from that State to the Indian 
Territory, west of the Mississippi river. This was in conse- 
quence of the hostile legislation of the State of Georgia 
against them. The Supreme Court of the United States had 
decided these laws to be unconstitutional ; but this decision 
was disregarded, and the Indians were driven off. " Lo ! 
the poor Indian ! ' ' 

1839. 

In the early part of this year, Gen. Macomb induced the 
Seminole Indians to make a treaty of peace with the United 
States, but they were treacherous, and many murders were 
still committed. 
This year there was trouble between the United States and 
England, respecting our ~N. E. boundary line. For the set- 
tlement of this question, see July, 1842. 
Dec. 2 — Congress assembled, but it was three weeks before the house 
was organized. 
A_ Whig conven 
Harrison as their candidate for President. 

1840. 

May 5 — A Democratic convention assembled at Baltimore, and nom- 
inated Martin Van Buren as their candidate for the office 
of President. 

June 30 — Congress passed the sub-treasury act, which had been de- 
feated in 1837. 

Dec. 19-^-Felix Grundy, U. S. Senator from Tennessee, a very prom- 
inent statesman, and zealous friend of President Jackson, 
died. 
The fourteenth Presidential election arrives this fall, when the 
"Whig candidate, Wm. H. Harrison, was elected. This was 
the most exciting election ever held in this country. 

1841. 

Jan. 14 — Congress abolished imprisonment for debts due to the uni- 
ted States wherever it was abolished by State laws. 

March 4 — Wm. H. Harrison inaugurated the ninth President. 

" 17 — The President called (by proclamation) an extra session of 
Congress to meet on the 31st inst., to consider the subjects 
of revenue and finances of the country. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 463 

April 4 — William H. Harrison President of the United States, died, 
and John Tyler, the Vice President, became acting Presi- 
dent. This was the first time such an event had happened. 

May 14 — Acting President John Tyler had issued a proclamation rec- 
ommending this day to be observed as a day of fasting and 
prayer, on account of President Harrison's death, which 
was so observed. 

June 25 — Alexander Macomb, chief in command of the United States 
army, died at Washington. 

July 21 — Congress authorized the President to borrow $12,000,000 
for the support of government. 

Aug. 9 — The sub-treasury act repealed. 

" 18 — The United States bankrupt law went into operation j but 

it was repealed in 1843. 
" 16 — The President vetoed a bill to charter a U. S. Bank. 

Sept. 9 — He vetoed another bill for the same purpose. This made 
the fourteenth time the veto power had been used ; Wash- 
ington vetoed two bills, Madison four, Monroe one, Jack- 
son five, Tyler two. 
" 10 — All the members of Tyler's cabinet, except Daniel Webster, 
resigned. 

1842. 

June 25 — Congress again apportion the Kepresentatives in Congress 
among the States, on the basis of the sixth census (1840), 
fixing the ratio of one Kepresentative to 70,600 people. 

July 23 — The Bunker-Hill monument finished, which had been in 
progress seventeen years. 
In July the Senate ratified the treaty which had just been ne- 
gotiated by Daniel Webster for the United States, and Lord 
Ashburton, for England, in relation to the northeastern 
boundary between the United States and the British posses- 
sions in North America. 

Aug. 14 — It was officially announced that the war with the Indians 
in Florida had ceased. 
u 26 — By law the fiscal year of the United States government 
was made to commence on the 1st day of July of each year. 

Oct. 2 — The U. S. sloop of war Concord lost on the rocks in the Mo- 
zambique channel. 

Nov. 26 — Robert Smith, a member of the cabinet under Jefferson 
and Madison, died in Baltimore, aged 85. 

' 1843. 

March 3 — Congress make an appropriation of $30,000 to enable S. 
F. B. Morse to erect an experimental telegraph between 
Washington and Baltimore. This was tho first electric tel- 
egraph in the world. 

March 3 — Com. Porter, of the United States navy, but at this time 
American minister to Turkey, died at Constantinople. 



464 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

April 1 — John Armstrong, a prominent officer of the Kevolutionary 
war, and Secretary of War under Madison, died at Ked 
Hook, N. Y. 

June — In this month the Dorr rebellion broke out in Ehode Isl- 
and. 

Aug. 26 — The United States frigate Missouri, lying at anchor at Gi- 
braltar, Spain, took fire and was consumed. 

Dec. 18 — Smith Thompson, a judge of the U. S. Supreme Court, died 
at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., aged 76. 

1844. 

Feb. 28 — A very large wrought-iron gun burst on board the TJ. S. 
steamer Princeton, while firing a salute, and killed Abel P. 
Upsher, then Secretary of State, and a number of other dis- 
tinguished gentlemen who were on board. 

May 1 — Henry Clay nominated for President, and Theodore Fre- 
linghusen for Vice President, by a "Whig convention assem- 
bled at Baltimore. 
" 7 — Morgan Lewis, a distinguished officer and statesman during 

the devolution, died in New York. 
" 27 — James K. Polk nominated by the Democratic convention as- 
sembled at Baltimore, for President, and George M. Dallas 
for Vice President. 
The fifteenth Presidential election occurred during the Fall, 
and resulted in the election of James J£. Polk, of Tenn., 
over Henry Clay, of Ky. 

1845. 

Jan. 16 — The treaty made by Mr. Cushing, United States minister to 
China, and the Chinese commissioners, unanimously ratified 
by the United States Senate. 
" 23 — Congress enact that hereafter all Presidential elections shall 
be held on the same day in all the States, viz. : on the first 
Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each year 
when such election is held. 
" 25 — A joint resolution to annex Texas to the United States 
passed the House, (it had previously passed the Senate,) by a 
vote of 120 to 98. 
March 1 — Texas annexed to the United States by resolution of both 
houses of Congress. 
" 4 — James K. Polk inaugurated the tenth regular President. 
" 4 — Florida admitted into the Union, making the twenty-sev- 
enth State. 
June 18 — Andrew Jackson died. 

" 18 — A joint resolution passed both houses of .the Texan Con- 
gress, assenting to the annexation to the United States. 
Sept. 10 — Joseph Story, one of the judges of the United States Su- 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 465 

preme Court, and one of the most able of American jurists, 
died, aged 66. 
Dec. 15 — A resolution offered by Mr. Cass, in the United States Sen- 
ate, and a speech made by him, caused much excitement, as 
they portended a war with England about the boundary 
line between Oregon and the northwestern British posses- 
sions. It was this originated the Democratic saying, "54° 
40' or fight." 

" 24 — Texas admitted into the Union as a State, making the 
twenty-eighth. 

" 28 — Iowa, having complied with the conditions imposed upon 
her by an act of March 3, 1845, was now fully admitted into 
the Union, making the twenty-ninth State. 

1846. 

March 28 — The American army, 3,500 strong, under Gen. Z. Taylor, 
post themselves on the Rio Grande, opposite Matamoras: 
The Mexicans regarded this as an invasion of their territory, 
and was the immediate cause of the Mexican war. 
April 24 — Hostilities commence between the U. S. and Mexico. 

" 26 — First battle, when the Mexicans made an attack on sixty- 
three United States dragoons, Capt. Thornton, who surren- 
dered, with a loss of 16 men. 
May 8— Battle of Palo Alto, with 6,000 Mexicans against 2,300 
Americans under Gen. Taylor. Mexicans whipped, with a 
loss of 100 men killed. Americans, 4 killed and 40 woun- 
ded. Major Ringgold was killed at this battle. 

" 9 — Battle of Resaca de la Palma. The Mexicans again de- 
feated, and their general (La Vega) taken prisoner. Gen. 
Taylor commanded the U. S. forces. 

11 12 — Congress passed an act declaring that war existed between 
the United States and Mexico, by the act of Mexico. Au- 
thorized the raising of 50,000 troops, and voted $10,000,000 
to carry on the war. 

" 13 — President Polk issued a proclamation that war existed with 
Mexico. 
July 6 — Com. Sloat, of the United States navy, took Monterey, on 
the coast of California, and issued a proclamation that that 
country was annexed to the United States. 
In the same month Com. Stockton took San Diego from the 
Mexicans. 

" 9 — Congress retrocede the county of Alexandria, in the District 
of Columbia, back to Virginia. 

ti 17 — The treaty between tho United States and England respect- 
ing the boundary line between Oregon and the English pos- 
sessions in North America, was ratified in London. 

•' 22— Congress authorized tho issue of $10,000,000 treasury notes. 
By this moans the loan above mentioned was raised. 



466 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

July 30 — Congress pass a new tariff, reducing the duties on imported 
goods. This is known as the tariff of 1846. 

Aug. 3 — President Polk vetoed the river and harbor bill, on the 
ground that it was unconstitutional, and that the money 
was wanted to carry on the Mexican war. 
11 8 — He also vetoed the French spoliation bill, on the ground that 
it had not been sufficiently considered, and that the money 
could not be spared in time of war. 
11 18— Gen. Kearney took peaceable possession of Santa Fe, in 
Mexico, and issued a proclamation absolving the Mexicans 
from their allegiance to the Mexican government. 
" 19 — Com. Stockton declared all the Mexican ports, south of San 

Diego, in a state of blockade. 
" 22 — The whole of California was at this time in the military 
possession of the United States. 

Sept. 21, 22, 23, 24— Battle of Monterey between 4,700 United States 
troops, under Gen. Taylor, and 10,000 Mexicans, under Gen. 
Ampudia. On the 24th an armistice of eight weeks was 
agreed to, when the Mexicans surrendered the city. 

Oct. 25 — Tobasco was bombarded by the Gulf squadron, under Com. 
Perry, and all the Mexican vessels in the port were captured 
or destroyed. 

Nov. 14: — Com. Connor took peaceable possession of the Mexican sea- 
port, Tampico. 

Dec. 8 — The United States brig Somers was capsized by a squall off 
Vera Cruz, and sank in ten minutes, with a loss of two offi- 
cers and thirty-nine men. 
" 25 — Battle of Brazito, near El Passo, between 450 Americans, 
under Col. Doniphan, and a body of Mexican cavalry, who 
were defeated. 

1847. 

Jan. 8 — The Mexican Congress voted to raise $15,000,000 for the war 
against the United States, by a mortgage upon or the sale 
of the property of the clergy. 

Feb. 23— Battle of Buena Yista, with 4,759 United States troops, 
under Gen. Taylor, and from 17,000 to 22,000 Mexicans, un- 

, der Gen. Santa Anna, who was defeated, with a loss of 1,500 

men. United States loss, 756. 
i{ 23 — On this day, ex-President John Quincy Adams died at 
"Washington. 

March 1 — Gen. Kearney, by proclamation, absolved the people of 
California from their allegiance to Mexico, and regarded 
them as citizens of the United States. 
u 3 — Wisconsin admitted into the Union by act of Congress, 
which took effect on the 29th May, 1848, making the thirti- 
eth State. 
" 9— Gen. Scott landed with 12,000 men at Vera Cruz. On the 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 467 

22d, 23d, 24th, 25th and 26th, he bombarded the city, which 

finally surrendered. 
April 18 — Battle of Cerro Gordo ; United States forces under Gen. 

Twiggs, Mexican under Gen. Santa Anna, who was defeated 

with a loss of 3,000 prisoners, 43 pieces of artillery, and 5,000 

stand of arms. 
Aug. 20 — Cherubusco (near the city of Mexico) stormed and taken 

by Gen. "Worth, with 9,000 troops, against a much superior 

force of Mexicans. 
Sept. 8 — Molino del Rey stormed and taken by Gen. "Worth. 

" 13 — Chepultepec (near the city of Mexico) stormed and taken 

by the United States forces, under Gen. Scott ; and on the 

14th Sept. he took the city of Mexico. This ended the Mex- 
ican war. 
" 17. — Gen. Scott imposed a contribution of $150,000 on the city 

of Mexico for the protection the United States army had 

given to the public property. 
Dec. 31 — The several Mexican States were assessed $3,000,000 for 

the support of the American army while it held the country. 

1848. 

Feb. 2 — Treaty of peace agreed upon between the United States and 
Mexico at Guadaloupe Hidalgo, (a small city four miles 
from the city of Mexico.) By this treaty Mexico relin- 
quished all claims to Texas, and ceded Upper California and 
New Mexico to the United States ; in consideration of which 
the United States gave Mexico $15,000 000, and assumed 
Mexican debts owing to our citizens to the amount of $8,- 
500,000. This treaty was subsequently ratified by the U. S. 
Senate, (March 10,) and by the Mexican government on the 
20th May following. 

March 31 — Congress authorized a loan of $16,000,000, to pay Mexico. 

June 7 — Gen. Zachary Taylor nominated at Philadelphia by a Whig 
convention, for President, and Millard Fillmore for Vice 
President. 
M 22-23 — A convention of Democrats, dissatisfied with the nomina- 
tion of Lewis Cass as the candidate of their party for Presi- 
dent, met at Utica, 1ST. Y., and nominated Martin Van Bu- 
rcn for that office. This was called the Free-Soil party, be- 
cause they opposed the annexation of Texas. 

Aug. 14 — A Territorial government organized for Oregon. 

Nov. 17 — According to the provisions of an act of Congress previ- 
ously passed, all the States vote on the same day for Presi- 
dent and Vice President. This was the sixteenth Presiden- 
tial election, and resulted in the choice of Gen. Taylor, the 
Whig candidate. 



468 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

1849. 

Jan. 26 — The ratification of the postal treaty with England exchan- 
ged at London. 

March 3 — Congress ordered gold dollars and double eagles to be 
coined. 
A Territorial government organized for Minnesota 
11 4 — Gen. Taylor, the eleventh President, inaugurated. 

May 7 — Gen. Worth, of the United States army, died. 

Aug. 12 — Albert Gallatin, a distinguished statesman, and Secretary 
of the Treasury under President Jefferson, died, aged 88. 

Sept. — The people of California form a constitution, prohibiting 
slavery in the State, preparatory to admission into the 
Union. 

Dec. 31 — The House of Representatives on the sixty- third ballot elec- 
ted Howell Cobb, of Georgia, Speaker, His competitor was 
R. C. Winthrop, of Mass. 

1850. 

Jan. 21 — The chiefs of the Seminole Indians (of Florida) met Gen. 
Twiggs in council, and agreed to abandon the country and 
move to the west of the Mississippi river. 
Feb. 22 — The original manuscript of "Washington's farewell address 

sold in Philadelphia for S2,300. 
July 9 — President Taylor died, and Vice President Fillmore became 

acting President. 
Aug. 3 — Jacob Jones, an eminent naval officer, died, aged 82. 
Sept. 9 — California admitted into the Union, making the thirty-first 
State. 
" 9 — Utah placed under a Territorial government. 
" 12 — The fugitive slave law passed. This, to the northern 
States, was probably the most offensive act ever passed by 
Congress. 
" 20 — The slave trade abolished in the District of Columbia by act 
of Congress. 
The above last four acts nave ever since their passage been 
known as the " compromise measures of 1850." 
Nov. 19 — Eichard M. Johnson, formerly Vice President, died. 

1851. 

March 3 — By act of Congress, postage was reduced to three cents on 
all letters not weighing over half an ounce, and for all dis- 
tances not exceeding 3,000 miles, if pre-paid ; but to five 
cents if not pre-paid. 
— John C. Calhoun, of S. Carolina, an eminent statesman, and 
once Vice President, died. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 469 

1852. 

June 28 — Henry Clay died. 

July 3 — A branch of theU. S. mint established at San Francisco, 

Cal., by act of Congress. 
Oct. 24— Daniel Webster died. 
Nov. — In this month *the seventeenth Presidential election took 

place, which resulted in the choice of Franklin Pierce, the 

Democratic candidate, over General Scott, the Whig can* 

didate. 

1853. 

March 2 — Washington Territory cut off from the northern part ot 

Oregon, and put under a Territorial government by act o* 

Congress. 
" 4 — Franklin Pierce inaugurated the twelfth regular President. 
Aug. 11 — President Pierce issued a proclamation warning citizens oi 

the U. S. against connecting themselves with Lopez against 

the island of Cuba. 

1854. 

March 23 — A treaty of commerce with Japan,, negotiated by Com. 
Perry, of the United States navy. 

May 19 — John Davis, a Senator from Mass., an eminent orator and 
statesman, known by the name of " Honest John Davis," 
died. 
" 30 — The Kansas and Nebraska bill passed in Congress. By this 
act these two Territories were organized under Territorial 
governments, and in the 14th section, the far-famed " Mis- 
souri compromise" act of 1820 was repealed, after it had 
been a law of the land for thirty-four years. This opened 
the old slavery discussion, and brought on the civil war in 
Kansas. 

1855. 

Feb. 24 — The Court of Claims established in Washington, by act of 
Congress. 

1856. 

March 4 — The free-State Legislature of Kansas, assembled at To- 
peka. 
" 20— Com. Connor died. 

May 18 — John C. Spencer, Secretary of the Treasury under Pierce, 
died at Albany, N. Y. 
*' 31 — John M. Niles, Postmaster General under Yan Buren. 
died. 

Nov. — In this month the eighteenth Presidential election took 
place, resulting in the choice of James Buchanan, the Dem- 
ocratic candidate, against John C. Fremont, the Repub- 
lican, and Millard Fillmore the American candidates. 



470 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

1857. 

Feb. 2 — Nathaniel Banks, of Mass., after 133 ballotings (which oc- 
cupied the House of Eepresentatives from the 3d of Decem- 
ber of the last year to this time), was elected Speaker. 

March 4 — James Buchanan inaugurated the thirteenth regular Pre- 
sident. •~* = * 

July — Wm. L. Marcy, Secretary of "War under President Polk, 
and Secretary of State under President Pierce, died, aged 
71. 

1858. 

May 11 — Minnesota admitted into the Union, making the thirty- 
second State. 

1859. 

Feb. 14 — Oregon admitted into the Union, which made the thirty- 
third State. 

1860. 

Nov. 6 — The nineteenth Presidential election occurred, and Abraham 
Lincoln, the ^Republican candidate, was elected, against Ste- 
phen A. Douglas, John C. Breckenridge and John Bell. 
Dec. 10 — Howell Cobb, U. S. Secretary of the Treasury, resigned, 
and President Buchanan appointed P. P. Thomas, of Mary- 
land, in his place. 

" 14 — Lewis Cass, United States Secretary of State, resigned, 
when the President nominated Jeremiah S. Black, of Pa., 
in his place. 

" 20 — South Carolina seceded from the government of the United 
States. This was the first act of secession ; but ten more 
of the slave States soon followed her example in the early 
part of 1861. 

" 28 — The United States arsenal, post office and custom house at 
Charleston, S. C, were seized by the authorities of that 
State. 

u — John B. Floyd, Secretary of "War, resigned, and Joseph 
Holt, of Ky., was appointe^Pm his place the next day. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 471 



1861. 



Now we have come to the period when the great rebellion of the 
southern States was fairly inaugurated. A number of events had 
occurred in the month of December, in 1860, which foreshadowed the 
coming storm, such as the resignation of the southern members of 
Mr. Buchanan's cabinet, and of southern Senators and Members of 
Congress, with the seizure of property belonging to the United States 
in Charleston, &c. Yet, hopes were still entertained of a pacifica- 
tion, as the spirit of rebellion had not showed itself in much strength 
outside of South Carolina; but this "smoking flax" burst into a 
consuming flame with the opening of this year. To chronicle all 
the events of this most terrible war, during the four following years, 
would require a volume of the size of this to contain them ; we must 
therefore only notice the most important of them, and many of these 
we shall so condense as to preserve the facts, without recording, in 
every case, the day of the month on which they occurred. 

January — During this month, Fort Macon, at Beaufort, the United 
States works at Wilmington, and the U. S. arsenal at Tay- 
lorsville, forts Caswell and Johnson, in North Carolina, the 
forts Pulaski and Jackson, and the arsenal at Savannah Geo., 
fort Morgan and the U. S. arsenal at Mobile, Ala., forts St. 
Philip and Jackson, fort Pike and the U. S. arsenal at 
Baton Eouge, in Louisiana, fort Barancas and the U. S. 
navy-yard, Fla., the U. S. arsenal at Augusta, Geo., the U. 
S. custom-house and mint in New Orleans, were all seized 
by the southerners in the States where they stood. 
And in this month Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Missis- 
sippi, five States, all passed ordinances of secession, and the 
Members of Congress from Georgia, Alabama and Missis- 
sippi withdrew during this month. 
« 29 — Kansas admitted into the Union — making the thirty- 
fourth State. 
Feb. 1 — Texas seceded from the Union. 

u 4 — A peace convention, with delegates from eighteen States, as- 
semble at Washington ; and on the same day a convention 
from the seceded States assembled at Montgomery Ala., to 
organize a confederate government. 

tl 6 — John Slidell and Judah P. Benjamin, U. S. Senators from 
Louisiana, withdrew from the Senate. 

" 9 — Jell*. Davis and Alex. Stephens chosen President and Vice 
President of tho Confederate States for one year. 



472 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Feb. 25 — About this time Gen. Twiggs, in command of the U. S. 
troops in Texas, delivered up his men to the southerners as 
prisoners of war. 

« 28 — Colorado organized into a Territorial government. 
March 2 — Dakota and Nevada organized into Territorial govern- 
ments. 

« 4 — Abraham Lincoln inaugurated the fourteenth regular Pre- 
sident of the United States. 

« 5 — Gen. Beauregard takes command of the southern forces at 
Charleston. 

u Q — The Senate of the confederate States confirm Jeff Davis' 
nominations of the members of his cabinet, viz. : for Secre- 
tary of State, E. Toombs, of Geo. ; for Secretary of Trea- 
sury, C. S. Meminger, of South Carolina ; for Secretary of 
War, L. P. Walker, of Ala. ; for Secretary of Navy, S. K. 
Mallory, of Fla. ; for Postmaster, J. H. Eeagan, of Texas; 
for Attorney General, J. P. Benjamin, of La. 

(i 11 — The Constitution of the confederate States adopted in con- 
vention at Montgomery, Ala., which was ratified afterwards 
by the several confederate States. 
April 11 — Gen. Beauregard demands of Major Anderson the sur- 
render of Fort Sumter, which was refused. 

11 12 — Bombardment of Port Sumter. This was the real com- 
mencement of the great civil war between the North and 
South. 
April 14 — Major Anderson and his men leave fort Sumter. 

i< 15 — President Lincoln calls for 75,000 men to defend Wash 
ington. 

<« 17 — Virginia secedes, and the Governor recognizes the act by 
proclamation. 

« 18 — The U. S. arsenal at Harper's Perry destroyed, to prevent 
its falling into the hands of the south. 

<< 19 — A mob, in Baltimore, attacked the Massachusetts troops 
who were going to Washington, in obedience to the Presi- 
dent's call ; and the mayor of Baltimore notified the Presi- 
dent that no more troops should pass through that city. 

11 19 — The President, by proclamation, declares the ports of the 
seceded States blockaded. 

« 20 — The U. S. mint at Charlotte, N. Cl, seized, and on the 
same day the railroads in Maryland were destroyed and 
bridges burnt. On the same day the U. S. navy yard at 
Gosport> Va., was destroyed by the men having it in charge, 
to prevent its falling into the hands of the south. Property 
lost worth $25,000,000. 

11 26 — Gov. Brown, of Georgia, forbids the citizens of that State 
from paying their debts due to the people of the north. 
May 3 — President Lincoln calls for 82,714 additional troops. 

44 6 — Virginia admitted as one of the confederate States, and the 
State of Tennessee passed an ordinance of secession. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 473 

May 10 — Gen. R. E. Lee took command of the southern troops in Va. 
« 15 — The Legislature of Massachusetts offer to loan the U. S. gov- 
ernment $7,000,000 to carry on the war. 
" 21 — North Carolina secedes from the United States. 
u 21 — The southerners blockade the Mississippi river at Memphis. 
» 24— Col. Ellsworth shot. 
a 27 — 100 slaves took refuge in fortress Monroe, and Gen. Butler 

declared them "contraband" of war. 
" 27 — Mobile blockaded ; Savannah ditto, on the next day, by the 

TJ. S. blockading squadron. 
" 31 — A fight of two hours between the Union gunboats at A«quia 
Creek and the batteries at that place. 
June 2 — Battle of Phillippa, Va. Union troops victorious. 
11 3 — U. S. Senator Douglas, of Illinois, died. 
" 10 — Battle of Big Bethel, Va. Union troops repulsed. 
rt 14 — The southern forces evacuate and burn Harper's Ferry, 

when the Union forces occupy the place. 
" 17 — A convention of Union men vote the independence of West 
Virginia — in other words, that part of Virginia seceded from 
old Virginia. 
M 18 — Battle of Booneville, Mo. Gen. Price routed by the Union- 
ists under Gen. Lyon. 
u 23 — Forty-eight locomotives of the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. 

destroyed by the southern forces. 
11 26 — President Lincoln recognizes the "Wheeling government as 
the government of Virginia. 
July 2 — Battle near Martinsburgh, Va. Patterson, Union, defeated 
by Gen. Jackson. 
it 5 — Congress assembled, and the President called for 400,000 

men, and $400,000,000 to put down the rebellion. 
u 5 — Battle at Carthage, Mo. Gen. Siegel commanded the Union 

and Gen. Jackson the southern forces. 
" 11 — Battle at Rich Mountain, Va. Union Gen. Rosecrans de- 
feated Gen. Pegram. 
" 11 — U. S. Senate expelled nine Senators from the southern States 

for treason. 
" 13 — Battle of Carrickford, Va. Union Gen. Morris opposing 

Garnett, who was killed. 
" 21 — Battle of Bull Run. Union Gon. McDowell against Beau- 
regard. Union troops defeated after ten hours' fighting, yet 
the south lost the most men. 
" 25 — Gen. Geo. B. McClellan took command of the army of the 
Potomac. 
Aug. 2 — Congress passed an act for raising 500,000 men, and $500,- 
000,000 by tax and tariff. 
" 7 — The village of Hampton, Va., burnt, to prevent its falling 

into the hands of the Unionists. 
« 10— Battle of Wilson's Creek. Union Gon. Lyon killed ; 268 
troops killed, and 421 of the enemy. Battle lasted six hours. 



474 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVEENMENT. 

Aug. 15 — Jeff. Davis ordered all northern men to quit the con- 
federate States in forty days. 

11 16 — President Lincoln, by proclamation, declared all commer- 
cial intercourse with the rebel States at an end. 

" 23 — The Cherokee Indians join the south. 

" 28 — Bombardment and capture of forts Hatteras and Clark, 
N. C, by the combined action of the army, under Gen. But- 
ler, and the navy, under Com. Stringham. 

u 31 — Gen. Fremont issued a proclamation confiscating the prop- 
erty of disloyalists in Missouri, and also freeing the slaves. 
This was countermanded by the President, 
gept. 1 — the village of Boom Court House, Ya., burnt. 

" 12 — Col. John A. "Washington, of the Southern army, killed 
while reconnoitering. 

" 12 — Battle of Cheat Mountain, Ya. Unionists victorious. 

" 18 — Some of the members of the Legislature of Maryland ar- 
rested and imprisoned for talking treason. 
Oct. 3 — Battle of Greenbrier, Ya. Unionists victorious. 

" 16 — The U. S. troops re-capture Lexington, Mo. 

" 16 — Battle of Pilot Knob, Mo. Unionists victorious. 

" 21 — Battle of Ball's Bluff— which was a severe fight— the Un- 
ionists defeated ; Col. Baker killed, with 918 men killed or 
wounded. 

# 29 — The great naval and military force, consisting of 75 vessels, 
(of all sorts,) and 27,000 men, sailed from Hampton Eoads, 
Ya., and bound south, under command of Com. DuPont, 
and Gen. T. W\ Sherman. 
N/ov. 1 — Gen. Scott retired from the command of the army, with full 
pay; and Gen. McClellan took his place. 

" 1 — Confederate Gen. Floyd tried to capture Gen. Eosecrans and 
his army at Gauley, Ya., but failed. 

" 4— Houston, Mo., taken by the Union troops, who captured a 
large amount of property. 

" 4 — A part of the great naval expedition arrived at Port Eoyal, 
South Carolina. 

" 7 — A great naval battle at Hilton Head, S. C, when forts Beau- 
regard and Walker were captured. 

" 8 — Battle of Belmont, Mo. Great slaughter on both sides. 

" 8 — Mason & Slidell, commissioners to Europe, were taken from 
the British steamer Trent by the U. S. ship San Jacinto, but 
on the demand of the English government they were given 
up to her. 

" 10 — The village of Guyandotte, Ya., burnt by Union soldiers, 
because some of them had been murdered by the inhab- 
itants. 

M 20 — Thirty old whale ships, loaded with stone, sailed from New 
London and New Bedford, to be sunk in the channels of 
some of the southern sea ports. This was accomplished. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 475 

Pec. 3-4 — Congressmen Bennett, of Ky., Eeed, of Mo., and John 
C. Breckenridge, U. S. Senator from Ky. , were expelled from 
Congress for treason. 

" 5 — At this time there were, as shown by the reports of the Sec- 
retaries of War and of the Navy, nearly 700,000 men in the 
army and navy of the U. States. 

" 16 — Platte City, Mo., burnt by the southern forces. 

*< 17 — More than twenty stone vessels sunk in the channels to the 
harbors of Charleston and Savannah. 

*' 31 — At the close of this year there were 246 vessels (of. all kinds) 
in the United States navy, carrying 22,000 men and nearly 
2,000 guns. 

1862. 

Jan. 2 — Battle on Port Royal Island, S. C. The southern forces 
driven from the island. 

" 10 — A fight near Prestonburgh, Ky., between Union Gen. Gar- 
field, and Gen. Humphrey Marshall's forces. Marshall de- 
feated. 

" 10 — Senators Johnson and Polk, of Mo., expelled from the U. S. 
Senate as traitors. 

" 12 — 125 vessels, with 15,000 troops, left Fortress Monroe for the 
south, under Com. Goldsborough and Gen. Burnside. 

" 13 — Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, resigned, and Edwin 
M. Stanton, of Pa., appointed in his place. 

" 18 — John Tyler, of Va., and once acting President, died. 

" 19 — Battle of Mill Spring, Ky. Union forces under Gen. Thom- 
as completely victorious over Gens. Crittenden and Zollicof- 
fer — the latter was killed. Unionists make a great haul of 
provisions and arms. 

<c 27 — Bishop Ames, of the Methodist Church, and Gov. Fish, of 
New York, appointed to visit prisoners at Richmond and 
other places, but the southern authorities would not allow 
them to enter their lines. 
Feb. 4 — Congress enact that the names of every person who had ta- 
ken up arms against the United States should be struck from 
the pension rolls. 

11 5 — Jesse D. Bright, of Indiana, expelled from the U. S. Senate 
for his secession sentiments. 

" 6 — The western gun-boats capture Fort Henry, on the Tennes- 
see river, under Com. Foote. The southern Gen. Tilghman 
taken prisoner. 

" 8 — Great battle on Roanoke Island, which, with all its fortifica- 
tions and guns, wore captured, together with over 2,500 pris- 
oners. Gen. Burnside commanded the Union forces. 

« 10— Naval battle between gun-boats, off Elizabeth City, N. C. 
All but one of the enemy's boats captured. 

" 12 — Gen. Grant, with 40,000 trooops, invests Fort Donaelson, on 



476 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

the Cumberland river, where there were 18.000 troops under 
Genls. Floyd, Pillow and Buckner. The fighting continued 
during the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th, when the fort surren- 
dered to the Union forces, with 13,300 prisoners of war, 
3,000 horses, 48 guns, and 20,000 small arms. 
Feb. 13 — Congress authorize the construction of twenty iron clad 
gunboats. 

11 18 — The southern Congress assembled at Kichmond, Ya. 

" 19 — Jeff Davis and Alexander H. Stephens were unanimously 
elected President and Vice President of the Confederate 
States for six years. 

11 23 — Nashville occupied by Union forces. 

" 25 — Congress authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to issue 
$150,000,000 of United States notes, (greenbacks) and make 
them a legal tender. 
Mar. 2 — A battle between the Union gunboats and the batteries at 
Pittsburgh Landing, Tenn. The southern forces repulsed 
with great slaughter. 

w 3 — Gen. Beauregard took command of the southern army in 
Mississippi. 

M 4 — Congress fix the number of Eepresentatives in Congress at 
241 — based on the census of 1860. 

" 6-8— B*attle of Pea Eidge. Union Gen. Curtis, with 22,000 
men, against Benj. McCullough with 35,000 men — McC. 
was killed. This battle lasted three days. 

" 8-9 — The Southern steamer Merrimac, or Virginia, with 
four gunboats, attack the U. States ships lying at Hampton 
Eoads, and burnt and sunk several of them, when the U. S. 
Monitor came into the fight and very soon disabled the 
Merrimac. This was the first trial of iron clads. 

11 14: — Battle of Newbern, N. C. ; where the Unionists found an 
immense amount of stores and ammunition. 

" 23 — Battle of Winchester, Va. The southern forces defeated 
with great loss. 

April 6-7 — Battle of Pittsburgh Landing or Shiloh, on the Tennes- 
see river ; the Unionists victorious — Southern Gen. A. S. 
Johnson, killed, and 3,000 of his men. This was one of the 
most terrible battles during the rebellion, and would hav8 
been lost but for the aid of the gunboats. Gen. Grant comman- 
ded the Union forces, and Gen. Beauregard the enemy. 100,- 
000 men were in the battle, and 20,000 were killed, wounded 
or missing. 

" 11 — Port Pulaski bombarded thirty-six hours, and taken by 
Gen. Hunter. 

" 16 — Slavery in the District of Columbia abolished by act of 
Congress. 

11 18 — The Union fleet of 51 vessels, under Com. Farragut and 
Porter, ascend the Mississippi river and bombard forts 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 477 

Jackson and St. Philip six days, and ran past them on their 
way to New Orleans, where they arrived on the 25th, when 
Com. Farragut demanded the surrender of the city, which 
was done. 
April 21 — A branch mint established at Denver, in Colorado, by act 

of Congress. 
May 1 — 251 Union cavalry captured at Pulaski, Term. 

" 4 — Yorktown, Va., evacuated by the enemy, and occupied by 
the Union forces. 

" 5 — Battle of Williamsburgh, Va. lasting all day. Unionists vic- 
torious. 

11 10 — Norfolk, Va., surrendered to the Union troops. 

" 11 — The southerners burn their sMp Merrimac 

" 11 — The southern forces evacuate Pensacola, Fla, and burn the 
public buildings and navy yard. 
May 15 — The Agricultural Department created by act of Congress. : 

11 24 — Battle at Bottom's Bridge, over the Chickahominy river, 
a Union victory. 

u 30 — The Union forces occupy Corinth, Miss., and 2,000 prison- 
ers taken. 
" 31— Battle of Pair Oaks, Va. After long and hard fighting the 
Union troops retreated. 
June 1 — Battle of Pair Oaks re-commenced — the Southerners driven 
back. Union loss 4,739 killed, wounded and prisoners ; the 
enemy nearly 6,000. 

11 6 — Gun-boat fight at Memphis, on the Mississippi river. Mem- 
phis surrendered, and nearly all the enemy's boats were de- 
stroyed or captured. 

" 8— Battle of Cross Keys, Va. Union loss 581 killed and 
wounded — southern, about 1,000. * 

" 14 — Battle on James Island, S. C, near Charleston — Unionists 
defeated. 

tl 17 — 125 Union men killed and wounded by the explosion of the 
gun-boat Mound City, on the White River, Ark., while 
in a fight. 

u 19 — Congress pass an act prohibiting slavery in any of the Ter- 
ritories of the United States. 

" 25 — Battle of Fair Oaks. Southerners repulsed. 

" 26 — Battle near Mechanicsville, Va. The southern forces 60,- 
000 strong, under Jackson. Union troops driven back to 
Gaines' Mill, where the loss was heavy on both sides. This 
battle was renewed the next day, and lasted all day. 

*' 27 — Bombardment of Vicksburgh by Union gun-boats. 

" 30 — Battles of White Oak Swamp, and Charles City Cross 
Roads, Va. Loss heavy on both sides. 
July 1 — The internal revenue bill passed. 

" 1 — Congress pass an act prohibiting polygamy in any part of 
the United States — (a hit at the Mormons.) 

" 1 — The Union Pacific Railroad chartered by Congress. 



478 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

July 1 — Battle of Malvern Hill. Va. Union victory. With this 
battle ended the seven days' fighting near Richmond, which 
cost the Union army over 15,000 men in killed, wounded 
and missing. 

" 1 — President Lincoln called for 600,000 volunteers to put down 
the rebellion. 

" 2 — Congress pass an act in which a new oath of office is pre- 
scribed, much more comprehensive than any former oath, 
which has been called "the Iron-clad oath." 

" 7 — Gen. Curtis' army encountered 1,500 southern troops at 
Bayou de Cache, Ark., when a severe fight ensued of two 
hours' length — the enemy routed, leaving over 100 dead on 
the field. 

M 11 — Gen. H. W. Hallcck made commander-in-chief of the army 
of the United States. 

11 12 — The southern forces, with 4,000 cavalry, capture Murfrees- 
borough, Tenn., after a severe fight, with about an equal 
loss on both sides. 
Aug. 4 — The President ordered a draft of 300,000 men to serve in 
the army nine months. 

14 5 — Battle of Baton Rouge, where Gen. Breekenridge, with 
6.000 troops, attacked the Unionists under Gen. Williams, 
who, after a bloody fight, forced the enemy to retreat. 

" 5 — The United States gunboat Essex attacked the steamer Ar- 
kansas, a little below Baton Eouge ; fired red hot shot into 
her, and blew her up. 

" 5 — Gen. Bobert McCook assassinated while sick. 

il 9 — Battle of Cedar Mountain, Va. Union troops under Gen. 
Banks ; enemy under Gen. Jackson. After a three hours' 
fight, both parties retired. 

11 16 — Gen. McClellan leaves Harrison's Landing on the James 
river. 

14 21 — Gen. Siegel opened his masked batteries on five regiments 
of southern troops, who had just crossed the Rappahan- 
nock river, slaughtered 700 of them, and took 2,000 pris- 
oners. 

11 26 — A Union naval expedition went up the Tazoo river, Miss., 
capturing everything in its way. 

" 28 — Battle at Centre ville, Va., under Union* Gens. Siegel and 
McDowell; Gen. Jackson was defeated. 

11 29 — Battle of Groveton, near Bull Run, Va. Unionists under 
Gen. Pope. The battle lasted all day, when the enemy re- 
treated. Col. Fletcher Webster was killed here. The fight 
was renewed the next day, and with great loss, when Pope 
retreated. 

44 80 — Battle near Richmond, Ky. Unionists, under Gen. Nelson, 
defeated with great loss. 

** 31 — Battle of Weldon, Va. The southerners badly beaten. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 479 

Sept. 1— On this day three battles were fought. 1. At Chan till y, 
two miles from Fairfax Court House, Va., in which two 
Union generals were killed, to wit : Kearney and I. J. Ste- 
vens ; their loss in men was also large. 2. At Britton's 
Lane, Tenn., lasting four hours — enemy fled. 3. At Jack- 
son, Tenn., where the southerners left 110 dead on the 
field. 

«« 6 — The southern army ford the Potomac river and cross into 
Maryland, and on the 6th they occupy Frederick City, in 
that State. 

» 6 — 1,200 troops attack the Union garrison at "Washington, N. 
C, but were repulsed. 

" 8 — Gen. Lee issued a proclamation to the people of Maryland. 

ii 9 — On this day these three events happened — 1. Col. Grierson at- 
tacked the southerners at Coldwater, Miss., and drove them 
back. 2. They attack the Union forces at Williamsburgh, Va., 
where they were repulsed. 3. Fredericksburgh, Va., was 
evacuated by the southern forces. 

11 10 — Gov. Curtin, of Pa., (expecting an invasion of the State,) 
called on all the able bodied men to organize for defence. 

" 10 — In Cincinnati, O., so great were the fears of an attack, that 
3,000 laborers were put into the trenches to fortify the city. 

" 11 — The Union forces at Ganby, Va., burn all the government 
property and abandon the place. On the same day, May- 
ville, Ky., and Bloomfield, Mo., were taken by the southern 
forces. 

" 12 — Fight on Elk river, Va., near Gauley, which lasted all 
day. On the same day Charleston was bombarded and 
burnt. 

" 13 — The southerners opened fire on Harper's Ferry, when an 
artillery duel was fought all day. 

" 14 — Battle of South Mountain, Md. Unionists, under Mc- 
Clellan, attack ; the battle lasted all day, when the enemy 
fled in the night. Here Gen. Reno was killed, with about 
350 men. 

'* 15 — Harper's Ferry surrendered to the southern forces, who 
took 11,500 prisoners and sixty cannon. 

« 16-17— Battle of Antietam, Md.— 100,000 men on each side. 
This was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Union 
Generals Hooker, Porter, Burnside and McClellan, op- 
posed Generals Lee, Hill, Jackson and Longstreet. Union 
loss over 12,000, enemy about 25,000. 

" 20 — Battle of Iuka, Miss. Enemy defeated with a loss of over 
14,000. Union loss over 700. 

tl 22 — President Lincoln's proclamation, declaring all the slaves 
free in the rebel States, in case they continued the war 100 
days longer. 

" 23 — About this time the Sioux Indians in Minnesota became 
very troublesome, and many of them were killed. 



480 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Sept. 27 — The Union garrison at Augusta, Ky., surrendered to 600 

cavalry, after 90 of them were killed. 
Oct. 4 — Battle of Corinth, Miss. Union loss in killed, wounded and 

missing, 2,300 — enemy over 9,0J0, including prisoners. 
" 8-9 — Battle of Perry ville, Ky. Gen. Kousseau commanded tb.3 

Union forces — Bragg, Buckner and Cheatham the enemy, 

who were routed with a loss of 600 killed — Union 468. 
li 10-11 — Southern cavalry reach Chamhersburgh, Pa., capture 

500 horses, a quantity of government stores, and fled back 

to Virginia. 
" 14 — A donation of $100,000 was sent from San Francisco for 

the Sanitary Commission. 
" 15 — A hard battle was fought near Richmond, Ky., between 

45,000 southern troops, and 18,000 Union forces, who lost 

2,000 men— southern loss 3,300. 
" 22 — Battle of Maysville, Ark. 5,000 southern troops routed. 
" 24 — The English steamer Scotia, loaded with arms and powder 

for the enemy, captured on the coast of South Carolina. 
11 30 — Gen. Mitchell, (the astronomer), in command of the south' 

ern division of the U. S. army, died at Beaufort, S. C. 
Nov. 5 — The southern troops attacked Nashville, Tenn., but were 

repulsed. 
" 25 — Southern troops attacked Newbern, North Carolina, but 

left soon. 
" 28— Battle of Cane Hill, Ark., when 5,000 Union soldiers, under 

Gen. Blunt, drove the southern troops, under Gen. Marma- 

duke, twelve miles, in a running fight. 

Dec. 5 — Battle of Coffeeville, Miss., of two hours duration. South- 
ern loss heavy — Union, light. 
» 7— Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. Union loss 1,000 in killed 

and wounded. 
" 8 — Steamer Lake City destroyed by the southerners. 
u 9 — Concordia, on the Mississippi river, burnt by the Unionists. 
11 10 — Port Koyal was bombarded by the Unionists. 
" 11 — Fredericksburgh shelled. 
ii 13 — Battle of Fredericksburgh, Va., where Generals Taylor, 

Bayard, and Jackson, of the Union army, and Gregg and 

Cobb, of the southern, were killed. 
" 14 — Battle of Kingston, N. C, where the Union men killed and 

wounded several hundred, and took 400 prisoners and a 

quantity of arms. 
11 16 — Fredericksburgh evacuated by the Union army — which was 

equal to a defeat at the battle there on the 13th. 
" 17 — Baton Bouge, the capital of Louisiana, captured by General 

Banks' troops. 
u 19 — The southern forces re-took Holly Springs, Miss. ; 200 

Unionists killed and wounded, and half a million of doliarg 

in property destroyed, with 4,000 bales of cotton. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 481 

Dec. 26 — Thirty-eight Indians hung in Minnesota, for murdering the 
whites. 

** 27 — Vicksburg, Miss., attacked by the Union troops on land, 
and by the gunboats on the river, but on the 29th had to 
fall back. 

«« 31 — The famous iron Monitor, which whipped the Merrimac, 
was sunk at sea in a storm. 

iJ 31 — A severe fight at Murfreesboro', Tenn.; Unionists driven 
back. This battle was renewed the next morning, and con- 
tinued four days, when the enemy retreated. Union loss in 
killed, wounded and prisoners, over ll,000j the enemy's 
much less. 

1863. 

Jan. 1 — Battle of Galveston between United States blockading 
squadron and the batteries. Here the U. S. steamer Harriet 
Lane was captured, and the steamer Westfield was blown 
up by her commander, and all hands on board were lost. 

M 1 — Gen. Sullivan, with 60,000 men, attacked the southern 
forces under Gen. Forrest, near Lexington, Tenn. This 
battle lasted all day, with great loss on both sides. Enemy 
defeated. 

« 1 — President Lincoln issued his proclamation liberating the 
slaves in all the rebel States. 

M 1 — Battle of Stone River, for ten hours without any result. 

<{ 9 — Twenty thousand prisoners exchanged. 

5* 11 — On this and the day previous there was hard fighting at 
forts Hindman and Arkansas Post. Union loss about 1,000. 
Southern prisoners nearly 8,000. 

M 11 — Union gunboat Hatteras sunk by the steamer Alabama. 

tt 13 — The southern steamer Oreto, afterwards called Florida, 
escapes from Mobile. 

" 17— By joint' resolution of Congress, $100,000,000 U. S. notes 
were issued to pay off the soldiers. 

u 21 — Engagement on the coast of Texas, when two U. S. ves- 
sels were captured. 

<< 22 — Gen. Fitz John Porter dismissed from the U. S. service. 

« 25 — First regiment of negro soldiers organized at Port Royal. ■ 
S. C. *" 

" 26 — Gen. Hooker succeeds Gen. Burnside in the command of 
the army of the Potomac. 

" 26 — The barque Golden Rule burnt, and the ship Washington 
captured by the southern steamer Alabama. 
Feb. 3-5 — The southern forces attack Fort Donelson on both these 
days, but were repulsed. 

11 5 — The Union ram Queen of the West, destroys three trans- 
ports loaded with supplies, on the Red River. 

" 9 — Gen. Hunter (in S. C.) conscripts all able-bodied negroes 
in his department. 

16 



482 OUTLINES OP U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Feb. 12 — The ship Jacob Bell captured and burned by the Florida. 
Her cargo was worth $1,000,000. 

" 21 — Ships Golden Eagle and Olive Jane, burnt by the Alabama, 
on the coast of Africa. 

11 24 — Territorial government for Arizona created by act of Con- 
gress. 

" 24 — Union gunboat Indianola taken by four steamers. 

" 25 — Cavalry fight at Strasburgh, Ya. Union loss 200 in killed 
and prisoners. 

" 25 — An act to prevent correspondence with the rebels, under a 
penalty of $10,000, passed and approved. 

« 25 — The bureau of currency created in the Treasury Depart- 
ment, the head of which is the comptroller of the currency, 
who is appointed for five years by the President, upon the 
nomination of the Sec. of the Treasury. This act also pro- 
vides for a national currency, secured by a pledge of U. S. 
stocks. Under this act our present national banks were or- 
ganized. 

" 26 — The Cherokee council repeal their act of secession, and 
abolish slavery. 

" 28 — The iron clad Nashville, which laid in the Ogeechee river, 
Geo., destroyed by the Union gunboat Montauk. 

Karch 1 — The third fruitless attack upon fort McAllister, Geo., by 
the Union gunboats. 

11 2 — By act of Congress the number of generals in the service 
of the United States (of all grades) were increased from 253 
to 358. 

11 3 — Act of Congress approved authorizing the Secretary of the 
Treasury to borrow $900,000,000 on the credit of the Uni- 
ted States, and to issue $50,000,000 in fractional currency. 
This loan was issued in what is called 10.40 bonds, because 
j, they had from ten to forty years to run. 

'• 3 — Congress authorize the President to suspend the privilege 
of the writ of habeas corpus during the rebellion. 

'• 3 — The office of Assistant Treasurer created by act of Congress. 

" 3 — An act to establish a branch mint at Carson City, Nevada, 
approved. 

11 8 — An act forming a Territorial government for Idaho, ap- 
proved. 

" 3 — The gunboat Indianola destroyed by the enemy, and the 
gunboat Geo. "Washington was blown up in Broad river. 

it 3 — The President authorized to issue letters of marque and re- 
prisal to privateers for three years. 

•* 5 — Gen. Van Dorn attacks the Union troops at Springfield,' 
Tenn., routed them, and captured many prisoners. 

« 6 — Pr.anklin, Tenn., taken by the southern forces, who killed 
300 and took 1,000 prisoners. 

*l 10 — Jacksonville, Fla., taken by U. S. negro troops. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD" 483 

Mch. 13 — Battle at the mouth of the Tallahatchie river "between the 
gunboat Ch»illicothe and fort Pemberton, which was silenced. 

m 14 — The U. S. fleet bombarded fort Hudson, La. In the at- 
tempt to pass the batteries, the flag ship Mississippi was dis« 
abled, and burnt by order of Com. Farragut. 

«* 17 — Averill's cavalry (Union) reached Kelly's Ford, where 
they attacked the enemy, under Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee. 
The battle lasted five hours, when the enemy fell back. 
This battle was one of the most gallant cavalry fights of the 
whole war. 

11 19 — The English steamer Georgiana, with arms for the south, 
destroyed off Charleston, S. C. 

« 25 — Two Union rams destroyed in attempting to pass the bat- 
teries at Vieksburgh. 
April 1 — Admiral Farragut's fleet pass all the batteries at Grand 
Gulf. 

*' 6 — To show the effects of the war on the south, we quote the 
prices of several articles at Kichmond, Va. At this date, 
butter $3 per lb. ; hams $1.45 per lb. ; brandy $24 per gal. ; 
corn $7.50 per bushel ; candles $3 per lb. ; coffee $4.50 per lb. 

«« 7 — A number of ironclads attack fort Sumter, in Charleston 
harbor, but they were badly punished, and left. Here the 
Union monitor Keokuk sunk two days after, from damages 
received. 

" The ship Morning Star captured by the steamer Alabama. 

" 8 — Two Union steamboats on the Cumberland river captured 
and burnt. 

" 8 — Admiral Farragut captures the steamer J. D. Clark. 

" 12 — Battle at Teche, La., Unionist under Gen Banks. Another 
fight occurred on the 14th, between the same parties, when 
the enemy ran and lost three of their gunboats. 

" 16 — Porter's fleet of six gunboats and a number of transports, 
ran by all the batteries at Vicksburgh. 

" 20 — President Lincoln issued a proclamation that "West Virginia 
had complied with the act of Congress, imposing a certain 
condition of admission as a separate State ; gave notice that 
in sixty days from this date she would come into the 
Union. 

** 23 — Gen. Hunter gives Jeff. Davis notice that he will retaliate for 
the killing of our negro soldiers and their officers. 

" 24 — On this day the Union forces were defeated in a fight at 
Beverly, Va., and were victorious at AVeber Falls, Ark., and 
also on the Iron Mountain railroad, near St. Louis, Mo, 

" 26 — Three hundred and fifty thousand bushels of corn destroyed 
on Deer Creek, Miss., by a party of Union raiders. 

cc 27 — Texas Legion captured at Franklin, Tenn. 

" 28 — Cavalry fight at Sand Mountain, Geo. Southern troops flee, 
leaving 200 dead and wounded. 
During this month no less than eighty-five battles, skirmishes 



484 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

or attacks took place on land and upon the water, (the lat- 
ter principally by gunboats.) 
May 1 — Battle of Port Gibson ; 11,000 southern troops defeated. 
They also suffer another defeat at Moiiticello, Ky., and an- 
other at South Quay, Va. The Unionists suffer a defeat 
also in a skirmish at Lagrange, Ark. The battle of Chan- 
cellors ville, Va., also commenced this day. 

u 2 — Battle of Chancellorsville, Va. This was the second day of 
fight. The Union forces under Gen. Hooker; opposed by 
Gen. Lee. On the third day loss heavy on both sides. 

u 2 — Col. Grierson's raiders reach Baton Eouge, La., after 15 
days' ride through Mississippi, in which time they had sev- 
eral fights, took prisoners, destroyed railroads, burnt 
bridges, and did much damage. 

" 3 — Col. Streighfs Union raiding force of 1,600 men captured 
near Gadsden, Ala. 

" S — Gen. Sedgwick captured Predericksburgh, Va., but it was re- 
taken the next day. 

H 3 — Capture of Grand Gulf, Miss., by Admiral Porter's fleet. 

" 5 — Vallandigham arrested in Ohio for treason. 

" 10 — Stonewall Jackson died. 

" 12 — Battle of Parnden's Creek, Miss. Between Gen. Gregg 
and the Unionists under Gen. Logan — each about 5,000 
men. Union victory. 

11 13 — Yazoo City captured by the Union gunboats, with two mil- 
lions of property. 

K 16 — Battle at Baker's Creek, Miss. ; Gen. Grant, Union, against 
Gen. Pemberton, who was defeated, with a loss of 4,000 men. 
This victory was followed up by another battle the next 
day, when 2,000 more prisoners were taken. 

" 18 — Vicksburgh invested by the forces of Gens. Grant, Sher- 
man, McPherson and McClernand, and the terrible battle 
began, while Admiral Porter aided them with his fleet of 
gunboats. (See 4th of July next.) 

« 21— The southern troops offer terms of capitulation, being com- 
pletely surrounded in their fortifications at Vicksburgh ; out 
Gen. Grant refused any other terms than unconditional sur- 
render. 

" 26 — Gen. Breckenridge defeated in Tennessee. 

11 27 — Gen. Banks repulsed in his second attack on Port Hudson, 
La. He also failed in two or three subsequent attacks on the 
same place. 
June 7 — Battle at Milliken's Bend. The Union force in the main 
action were negroes, who drove back the enemy. 

" 9 — Two cavalry fights take place this day on the Rappahannock 
river, the latter at Brandy station. 

«' 11 — Col. Montgomery starts from Hilton Head, S. C with a 
regiment of colored troops, for a raid in Georgia. 

" 11 — The Clarence captures six vessels off the Chesapeake bay. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD 485 

June 15 — President Lincoln calls for 100,000 men to repel Gen. Lee's 
army, now marching north. 

" 16 — The governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey call for 
volunteers to defend Pennsylvania from invasion. 

n 17 — The steamer Nashville captured. 

" 18 — The southern troops, under Milroy, arrive at Bedford, T*a., 
and within a few days after several other large bodies of 
their troops enter the State at Chambersburg, Carlisle, Ship- 
pensburg, Gettysburg, and York, amounting in all to more 
than 100,000 men. 

tl 20 — The new State of West Virginia organized. 
July — Missouri abolishes slavery in that State. 

" 1-2-3 — Successive fighting for three days at Gettysburg, Pa., 
which ended in a Union victory. This was one of the great- 
est battles of our civil war: 6,000 men were buried on the 
field, and about 200,000 were in the fight ; Union loss 23,- 
000 in killed, wounded and missing. General Lee, in the 
night, crossed the Potomac river into Virginia. 

" 4 — Vicksburg, Miss., surrendered to Gen. Grant, after holding 
out against our bombarding and shelling since the 18th of 
May last. Gen. Pemberton not only surrendered the place, 
but his whole army of 31,000 men, 220 guns, and 70,000 
small arms. The battle of Gettysburg and the surrender of 
Vicksburg may be considered as the turning point of the 
war. 

" 4 — Gen. Lee fled. President Lineoln announces the victory of 
Gettysburg, and Gen. Meade issues a congratulatory address 
to his army on their victory. 

" 8 — Surrender of Port Hudson, on the Mississippi river, to Gen. 
Banks, with 7,000 prisoners, and a great number of cannon 
and small arms. This opened the Mississippi to trade. 

" 13 — Great riot in New York. It became necessary for the gov- 
ernment to send troops to that city to put down the riot. 
The colored orphan asylum was burnt, negroes hung in the 
streets, houses robbed and burnt. 

" 15 — The riot in New York continues. The United States troops 
had arrived ; they fire upon the rioters, and kill and wound 
several hundred of them. 

M 15 — President Lincoln issues a proclamation appointing the 6th 
of August as a day for thanksgiving for the recent great 
victories by our armies. 

" 23 — Battle of Manassas Gap, Va.; southern loss about 400 killed, 
and wounded. 

" 26 — Morgan, the guerilla, who had been scouring Indiana and 
Ohio, burning, killing and robbing, was captured with 400 
ot his men in Ohio. 

ic 26— John J. Crittenden, long in the Senate of the United States 
from Kentucky, died at 'Frankfort in that State. 
Aug. 1 — Two battles between cavalry took placo this day in Vir- 



486 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

ginia; one at Kelly's Ford, on the Kappahannock, and one 

at Culpepper. 
Aug. 4 — The steamboat Euth accidentally burnt on the Mississippi 

river, with $250,000 of government money on board. About 

this time, the Indians in Minnesota were hostile, and Gen. 

Sibley had three battles with them, and drove them off. 
11 12 to 20 — Gen. Gilmore bombards Fort Sumter, and on the 21st, 

22d, 23d, and 25th, threw shells into Charleston, S. C, at a 

range of nearly six miles. 
" 27 — John B. Floyd, Secretary of War under Buchanan, died. 
11 31 — A squadron of United States war vessels attack fort Moul- 
trie, in Charleston harbor. 
During this month, Mississippi and Tennessee swarmed with 

guerillas. 
Sept. 1 — Knoxville, Tenn., captured by Gen. Burnside's troops. An 

artillery fight at Port Koyal, Ya. 
" 2 — Kingston, Tenn., captured by Gen. Burnside. 
" 5 — Forts Wagner and Gregg, near Charleston, bombarded by 

Gen. Gilmore, and on the 6th the enemy evacuated them. 
** 8 — Cumberland Gap, with 2,000 prisoners, surrendered to Gen. 

Burnside. 
11 10 — Little ftock, Ark., evacuated and occupied by the Union 

troops. 
" 19 — Battle of Chickamauga, Geo. This battle raged for two 

days, and ended in a great defeat for the Union army, and 

a loss of over 15,000 men in killed, wounded and missing. 

Gen. Kosecrans commanded the Union, and Gen. Bragg the 

southern troops. 
" 22 — A heavy battle at Madison Court House, Ya. Unionists 

victorious. 
tl 28 — The enemy attacked Gen. Burnside, at Knoxville, Tenn., 

but were repulsed. 
Oct. 3 — Union troops threw Greek fire into Charleston. 

" 5 — The enemy attacked Murfreesboro, Tenn., but were repulsed. 

Chattanooga, Tenn., bombarded by Gen. Bragg. 
5 — The "New Ironsides," in Charleston harbor, attacked by a 

gunboat and torpedo, but they failed in the attempt, and the 

assailants were captured. 
*' 14— Battle of Bristoe Station, Ya. Result, 450 Southern 

prisoners. 
" 16 — Henry Ward Beecher lectures in England in relation to our 

civil war. 
" 16 — Gen. Grant takes command of the departments of Tennessee, 

Cumberland and Ohio. 
« 17— The President calls for 300,000 more troops. 
" 21 — Three fights occur this day — 1. At Tuscumbia, Ala. 2. At 

Philadelphia, Tenn. 3. At Corinth, Miss. 
" 26 — Charleston again bombarded from forts Wagner, Gregg and 

the Union gunboats. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 487 

Oct. 27 — Battle of Brown's Ferry, on the Tennessee river, near Chat- 
tanooga. Southern troops repulsed with loss. 

" 28 — Lookout mountain taken by Gen. Hooker's forces. 

" 31 — Battle of Shell Mound, Tenn. Union troops under Gen. 
Hooker gain another victory. 
Kov. 2 — Gen. Banks lands his army in Texas, and two days after 
takes peaceable possession of Brownsville. 

" 5 — Chattanooga bombarded for several days about this time. 

" 5 — Gen. Averill defeats the enemy at Lewisburg, Va., cap- 
turing a large amount of arms, wagons and other property. 

" 6 — About this time the north was horrified at the starvation of 
Union prisoners in the prisons at Richmond, Va. 

" 7 — Gen. Meade drives the enemy across the Rappahannock 
river, and captures 2,000 prisoners. 

" 11 — The British minister (Lord Lyons) informed our govern- 
ment that the enemy intended to invade the United States 
from Canada. 

" 15 — Gen. Banks captured Corpus Christi Pass, Texas. 

" 15 — Gen. Longstreet drove Gen. Burnside from Holston, Tenn., 
to Bull's Station. 

" 16 — Gen. Sherman and Gen. Thomas' forces unite at Chattanooga, 
Tenn. 

" 17 — Gen. Longstreet besieges the city of Knoxville, Tenn., at 
this time in Gen. Burnside's possession. 

Cl 17 — Charleston again shelled, as it had been on the 10th and 
11th inst. 

" 19 — Union National Cemetery consecrated at Gettysburg for 
the soldiers who fell at the great battle at that place in July. 

" 20 — Mosby, having his men disguised by Union uniforms, at- 
tacks our troops at Bealton Station. This was discovered 
and frustrated. 

11 23 — Battles of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. The fight 
was continued three days. Gen. Hooker drove the enemy 
from the mountain. This fight was above the clouds. Gens. 
Hooker, Thomas and Sherman commanded the Union troops, 
and Gen. Bragg the enemy. 

" 26 — The Union troops pursued them to Chickamauga. But they 
had fled, after destroying their stores. 

* 26 — Cavalry fight near the Rapid an river. 

c 26 — Gen. Grant reported that Gen. Bragg's rout was complete, 
with a loss of sixty guns. 

tl 28 — Gen. John Morgan escaped from prison at Columbus, Ohio. 

" 28 — The southern forces attacked Knoxville, Tenn., and were 
repulsed the next day with great slaughter. 
Pec. 4 — Gen. Longstreet abandoned Knoxville, and two days after, 
Gen. Sherman's troops arrived there to relieve Gen. Burn- 
side. 

w 7 — President Lincoln, by proclamation, recommended a day of 
thanksgiving, to be observed by all loyal people, on Account 
of the. recent great victories. 



488 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Dec. 8 — The President issued another proclamation, offering pardon 
(with few exceptions) to all who had taken part in the rebel- 
lion, upon consideration of their taking an oath hereafter 
to support the Constitution, the union of all the States, and 
the laws of Congress. 

" 12 — Gen. Butler gave notice that the authorities at Richmond 
refused to receive any more supplies for the Union pris- 
oners. 

M 16 — Gen. AverilPs cavalry destroyed the Yirginia and Tennes- 
see railroad, and a depot containing 4,000 barrels of flour 
and meat, 160,000 bushels of grain, and other military sup- 
plies. 

u 17 — The steamer Chesapeake, which had been captured by pas- 
sengers on the 6th inst., retaken by a United States gunboat 
near Halifax, N. S. 

" 24 — The bombardment of Charleston still continued. 

1864. 

Jan. 7 — Two blockade runners were captured this day: 1. The Dare, 
a British steamer, was run ashore at "Wilmington, K", C. , and 
destroyed. 2. The John Scott at Mobile Bay. 

" 11 — Two more blockade runners beached and burned on the coast 
of North Carolina. These made 22 which had been captured 
or burnt in the last six months. 

" 19 — The office of Assistant Secretary of War created by act of 
Congress. 

" 25 — Cornelius Yanderbilt received a vote of thanks from Con- 
gress for his gift to the government of the steamer Yander- 
bilt, worth $800,000. This ship had just returned from a 
year's cruise. 
Feb. 1 — The President ordered a draft of 500,000 men for three years 
or during the war. 

" 5 — The United States gunboat Cambridge destroyed the Eng- 
lish steamer Dee; and the gunboat DeSoto captured the 
British steamer Cumberland, with a cargo of arms, off Mo- 
bile. 

" 9— Over 1,000 bales of cotton burnt at Wilmington, N. C, 
valued at $700,000. 

" 20 — Battle of Olustee, Fla. Union troops, under Gen. Seymour, 
were defeated with great loss. Two negro regiments cov- 
ered his retreat and saved his army, 

l * 23 — Admiral Parragut began his six days' bombardment of fort 
Powell, below Mobile. 

*' 25 — Grierson and Smith's cavalry return to Memphis. During 
their expedition they took 1,500 negroes, and 300 horses; 
destroyed 3,000,000 bushels of corn, 4,000 bales of cotton, 
2,000 hides and 40 miles of railroad. 

*' 27 — Gen. Sherman's expedition returns to Yicksburgh, having 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 489 

destroyed 150 miles of railroad, 20 locomotives, 10,000 bales 
of cotton, 2,000,000 bushels of corn, and freed 10,000 ne- 
groes. 
During this month, in addition to the two raids above men- 
tioned, several others of less importance took place. The 
amount of property destroyed was immense, besides which, 
eighteen vessels (blockade runners and others) were cap- 
tured or destroyed. 
March 1 — Gen. Ulysses S. Grant nominated for Lieutenant General, 
and confirmed by the Senate the next day. 

M 12 — He was appointed commander-in-chief of the United 
States army. 

M 15— The President calls for 200,000 more men. 

" 25 — Gen. Forrest, with 6,500 men, attacks Paduicah, Ky., but 
was repulsed, by aid of Union gunboats, with heavy loss. 

h 28 — Battle of Cane river, La., when 8,000. Union troops, 
under Mower and Dudley, defeat 12,000 under Gen. Taylor. 
April 4 — Gen. Steele defeats Gen. Marmaduke's cavalry, 4,000 strong, 
on the little Missouri river, Ark. 

" 6 — Gen. Sheridan put in command of the cavalry of the army 
of the Potomac. 

li 8—JGlen. Banks' troops defeated, with a loss of 2,000 men and 
24 guns, at Mansfield, La., by Kirby Smith. 

u 8 — Gen. Banks' forces again attacked by the enemy, who were 
repulsed. Banks now gives up his Red river expedition, 
having lost about 4,000 men and 300 wagons. 

" 12 — -Gen. Forrest storms fort Pillow, and after its surrender, of 
the garrisoji, consisting of 250 whites and 350 negroes, not 
200 escapea. 

" 21 — North Carolina salt works, near "Wilmington, destroyed 
by a party from our gunboats. These works were worth 
$100,000. Before this, the Union commanders had made it 
their business to destroy all the salt works in the southern 
States which could be found, and millions of dollars worth 
wece thus destroyed. 
May 2 — 400 Union prisoners reach Annapolis, almost dead from 
starvation. 

11 4 — Grant's army, consisting of about 80,000 men, cross the 
Rapidan and encamp at Chancellorsville and the "Wilder- 
ness. 

" 5 — The great battle of the Wilderness, Va., begins — Grant 
commanding the Union army. Nothing decisive this day, 
but loss heavy on both sides. 

fl 6 — Second days' fighting commenced early in the morning. 
Here Gen. Wads worth (U.) was mortally wounded, and 
about 30,000 men, on both sides, were killed or wounded. 
Neither party could claim victory. 

'« 6 — At this date Sherman's army, posted on the borders of Ten- 
nessee and Georgia, (not far from Chattanooga,) amounted 



490 OUTLINES OE U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

to nearly 100,000 men and 250 guns ; while the forces under 
Joe Johnson, in the vicinity, were not over 60,000 strong. 
May 7 — Lee retreats to-day from the battle-ground of the "Wilder- 
ness for Spottsylvania Court House — the Union army starts 
for the same place — several fights occur on the way. 

n 7 — From official reports it appeared that from the commence- 
ment of the war to this date, there had been over 150,000 
officers and men taken prisoners by the Unionists. 

11 8 — Hard battle to-day at Spottsylvania Court House, between 
Grant and Lee's forces — Gen. Sedgwick was killed, but no 
decisive result, except that Gen. Sheridan captured im- 
mense supplies at Beaver Dam station. 

tt io — The same battle still continued, but nothing decisive, with 
a loss on each side of probably 10,000. 

" 12 — Another hard fight to-day, but still undecisive. 

" 16 — Gen. Butler's besieging forces at fort Darling, on the James 
river, were attacked and defeated by a loss of 3,500 men in 
killed, wounded and prisoners. 

" 26 — The Territory of Montana organized into a Territorial gov- 
ernment, by act of Congress. 
June 1 — Battle of Cold Harbor, Va. This continued three days, but 
was undecisive. 

" 7 — A. Lincoln nominated by a Republican convention at Balti- 
more for a second Presidential term. 

" 14 — General (and Bishop) Polk killed by a cannon shot. 

" 15— Gen. W. P. Smith attacks Petersburg, Va., with 15,000 
men, principally colored, for three successive days. At- 
tacks were continued but without succgss. These various 
assaults cost the Unionists nearly 10,000 men. 

" 19 — The steamer " Alabama," commanded by R. Semmes, was 
sunk on the coast of Prance by the U. S. gunboat " Kear- 
sarge,"Capt. Winslow, after a two hours' fight. 

« 28— The fugitive slave law of 1850, repealed. 

" 30 — Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, resigns his 
office, and Senator Pessenden was appointed in his place. 
July 1 — The public debt of the United States, at this date, was $1,- 

740,690,489.49. 
' " 1 — Gen. Sherman takes 3,000 prisoners this day. 

" 4 — An act passed by Congress to establish a branch mint at 
Dalles City, Oregon. 

" 8 — The " Florida " burns several vessels off the coast of Mary- 
land. 

" 9 — Battle of Monocacy — Gen. Early victorious. 

" 18 — President Lincoln calls for 500,000 more troops. 

" 20 — Eight at Winchester, Va., between Gen. Early, and Gen. 

Averill — southerners retreated with loss. 
J 1 20-22 — Two severe battles in Georgia. Gen. Hood attacks Gen. 
Sherman's army with a loss of 20,000 men in killed, wounded 
and prisoners. Union Gen. McPherson killed on the 22d. 






CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 491 

July 25 — The mine under the fort before Petersburgh completed, and 
charged with four tons of powder. 

" 28 — Battle of Four Mile Creek, north of the James river, Va. 
The gain nothing. 

" 30 — The great mine under the fort before Petersburgh exploded 
— blowing up the fort, with the regiment which garrisoned 
it, but from bad management, it proved a disastrous affair. 
Union loss 4,000, the enemy, only 1,050. 

" 30 — Gen. McCausland entered Chambersburgh, Pa., and burnt 
it. Loss, $1,000,000. 

" 30 — Gen. Stoneman's troops attacked by a great force at Macon, 
Geo.; and, after some hours' fighting, surrendered. 
During this month Petersburgh Va., was cannonaded nearly 
every day. 
Aug. 2 — Gen. Banks puts all the negroes, between the ages of 18 and 
40, (in the department of the Grand Gulf,) into his army, 

" 3 — Gen. Hood attacks Gen. Logan's lines at Atlanta, Geo., and 
drove them back, but in the evening Logan regained, his 
position. 

** 5 — Admiral Farragut enters Mobile bay with 32 vessels, silenc- 
ing the forts as he passed them. Inside, he attacks the iron- 
clad ram Tennessee, which surrendered with her admiral, 
Buchanan, and her crew. At this engagement the monitor 
Tecumseh was blown up and sunk, by a torpedo. 

" 6 — Fort Powell, on Mobile bay, abandoned, when it fell into 
the hands of Gen. Granger, with 18 guns. 

" 7 — Gen. Averill defeats the force at Moorfield, "W. Va., taking 
all their guns, 420 prisoners, and 400 horses — when they fled 
to the mountains. 

n 7 — English steamer Prince Albert sunk in Charleston harbor 
by our fleet. 

a 7 — The shelling of Petersburgh continues. 

" 8 — Fort Gaines, at Mobile bay, surrenders to Farragut and 
Granger — 56 officers, 818 men, and 26 guns. 

" 9 — Atlanta, Ga., bombarded from all parts of Sherman's lines. 

11 11 — The pirate Tallahassee, off Fire Island, burns five merchant 
vessels, and during this month she burnt and sank as many 
more. 

" 13 — Mosby, the guerilla leader, attacks and captures a Union 
supply train of 75 wagons, 500 horses, 200 cattle, and 200 
prisoners, near Berryville, Va. 

>' 19 — The enemy attack the Union lines at Keam's Station, Va., 
and took 3,000 prisoners. 

* 21 — The enemy attempt to drive Gen. Warren from the Weldon 
railroad and lost 600 men killed, and 1,100 prisoners — among 
their killed were Gens. Saunders and Lamar. 

• 23 — Fort Morgan (in Mobile bay,) surrenders to Admiral Farra- 

gut and Gen. Granger ; 600 men and 60 guns were taken. 

* 25 — Battle of Keam's Station, Va., in which the enemy drovt 



492 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

our troops out, killed and wounded 1,000 of them, and 
make prisoners of 2,000 more. 
At the close of August, we may say summarily that during 
this month Gen. Grant was operating before Eichmond, 
Ya. ; Gen. Thomas at Atlanta, Ga., and Admiral Farragut 
in Mobile bay. 
Sept. 2 — Gen. Hood, the commander at Atlanta, Ga., evacuates the 
place after destroying 80 carloads of ammunition and a vast 
quantity of military stores ; and the Union troops under 
Gen. Slocum, take possession, while Gen. Thomas pursues 
Hood. 

" 8 — Petersburgh, Ya., still cannonaded and shelled, 

" 12 — Gen. Sherman sends all the inhabitants of Atlanta out of 
the place. 

11 13 — Gen. Sheridan operating generally in the Shenandoah val- 
ley, Ya. 

" 16 — A strong cavalry force, under Hampton, at Caggin's 
Point, on the James river, Ya., drove off 2,500 beeves, in- 
tended for the Union army there. 

ft 19 — Battle of Oquequan, Ya. Here Sheridan defeated Gen. Early, 
who lost over 8,000 men in killed, wounded and prisoners, 
besides 6,000 small arms. 

" 20 — A shotted salute over Sheridan's victory, fired into Peters- 
bugh, which caused an artillery duel all along our lines. 

w 22 — Battle of Fisher's Hill, when Gen. Sheridan again defeats 
Early, who lost 1,500 killed and wounded, besides 2,400 pris- 
oners, 21 cannon, and a great quantity of small arms. 

t{ 30 — Our blockading force captured and destroyed about fifty 
blockade runners this month. 
Oct. 7 — Gen. Sheridan returns from his raid up the valley of the 
Shenandoah, where he has destroved 2,000 barns and their 
contents, with 70 mills. He also took 4,000 cattle, 3,000 
sheep and a great number of horses. 

" 7 — Commander Collins of the ship Wachussett, ran down the 
Florida, at Bahia, Brazil, and brought her home 

" 10 — The English blockade running steamer Bat, captured off 
Wilmington, N. C, on her first trip; she and her cargo 
were of great value. 

lt 11 — Maryland votes for a new Constitution, with a section in it 
abolishing slavery. 

" 19 — Great battle at Cedar Creek, Ya., in which Gen. Sheridan 
defeats Early. This victory was gained after Sheridan's 
troops had fled from the battle field. Sheridan stopped the 
retreat, turned his men about and whipped the enemy; who, 
flying, left everything behind them. The enemy's loss 2,000 
men, with 1,300 prisoners, 48 cannon, 398 horses, 65 ambu- 
lances, 50 wagons, and an immense amount of arms and 
ammunition. 

" 19 — A number of refugees, who were harbored in Canada, en- 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 493 

ter St. Albans, Vt., and robbed three banks, stole what they 
wanted, and returned to Canada. 

Oct. 27 — Gen. Grant's army makes a reconnoisance on both sides of 
the James river, but it resulted in nothing but the loss of 
1,500 men in killed, wounded and prisoners. 
" 28 — Gen. Price, with his army, driven out of Missouri into Ar- 
kansas. This was the end of Price's invasion of that State. 
He left it with about one-third of his men. 

Nov. 3 — The battle of Franklin, Term., to-day, resulted in a deci- 
ded Union victory — Gen Hood commanding the enemy, and 
Gen. Stanley the Unionists. Union loss 2,500 to 3,000. 

" 8 — Abraham Lincoln re-elected President of the United 
States, and Andrew Johnson, Vice President. 

" 8 — Gen. George B. McClellan resigns his commission as com- 
mander-in-chief of the United States army. 

" 9 — Gen. Sherman issues orders for his army to march from 
Atlanta, Georgia, to Savannah. 

" 11 — The gunboat Tulip bursts her boiler on the Potomac river, 
killing nearly all on board. 

il 13 — Gen. Breekenridge attacks Gen. Gillem, near Bull's Gap, 
Tenn., in the night, and routed his army. 

" 14 — Gen Sherman leaves Atlanta, Ga., after blowing up and 
burning the public buildings and factories. His army 
moves in two columns towards the sea — one under Gen. 
Howard, and the other under Gen. Slocum. 

" 15 — Atlanta burning all day. 

'* 19 — At the approach of Sherman, Gov. Brown and his Legis- 
lature, of Georgia, ran away from Mi Hedge ville, the capital 
of the State. 

" 22 — Sherman's army enter Milledgeville ; and on the 

11 23 — Some of his soldiers hold a mock session of the Legisla- 
ture, and pass highly loyal resolutions. 

u 24 — Thanksgiving was observed by the army of the Potomac, 
with 59,000 lbs. of turkeys sent them from the north ; and 
36,000 lbs. were sent to Sheridan's army. 

" 25 — An attempt was made to-night to fire New York city by 
southern desperadoes, who set fire in their rooms in fifteen 
hotels in the city, and also in several other places ; but the 
plot failed of success. 

Dec. 1 — Including those now in course of construction, we have 
671 vessels in our navy, carrying over 4,600 guns and 51,000 
men. These have captured 324 vessels during the past year, 
and 1,379 since the war began — 267 of which were steamers. 

" 5 — Up to this date 65 blockade runners (steamers) have been 
either taken or destroyed before Wilmington, N. C. Ships 
and cargoes worth $12,000,0^0. 

tt 6— Ex-Secretary (of the Treasury) Chase appointed Chief Jus- 



494 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

tice of the United States Supreme Court, in place of Roger 
B. Taney, deceased. 
Dec. 12 — Sherman's army reach Savannah, where Gen. Hardee is 
found, with 15,000 troops. In his march from Atlanta to 
this place his army destroyed 15,000 bales of cotton, cap- 
tured 6,000 beeves and 1,800 horses and mules, and 15,000 
negroes came into our lines. 

a 13 — Gen. Hazen's division, under Sherman, storm fort McAl- 
ister, near Savannah, Georgia, and take it, with 200 pris- 
oners and all its stores. 

11 14 — Gen. Dix issues an order to follow any invaders from Can- 
ada on to Canadian soil, if necessary to seize them ; but the 
President disapproved the order. 

" 15 — Battle of Nashville, Tenn., in which Gen. Thomas (Union) 
gained a victory over Gen. Hood. This battle lasted two 
days, on both of which the Unionists were victorious. 

i{ 15 — Battle of Murfreesborough, Tenn., in which Union Gen. 
Rousseau defeats Gen. Forrest, who lost 1,500 men. 

u 19 — President Lincoln issues a call for 300,000 volunteers. 

" 20 — Gen. Stoneman attacks three forts at Saltville, drove out 
the southern forces, and destroyed their salt works and lead 
mines, with 50 railroad bridges. 

M 20 — Gen. Sherman demands the surrender of Savannah. Gen. 
Hardee refuses, but fled during the night. 

" 21 — Gen. Sherman enters the city without opposition ; captures 
800 prisoners, 33,000 bales of cotton, 150 cannon, 13 loco- 
motives, 190 cars, 3 steamers, with much ammunition and 
stores; makes Gen. Geary military Governor. The people 
submit gracefully to their new masters. 

11 21 — Admiral Farragut made vice admiral, as a reward for hia 
great services. 

18G5. 

Jan. 1 — Since July 3, 1861, 66,390 pension certificates had been 
granted. 

" 11 — The Missouri State convention passed an ordinance eman- 
cipating the slaves in that State. 

il 14 — One vessel starts from Boston and another from New York, 
with charitable supplies for the people of Savannah, Ga.; 
and on the 16th instant another vessel left New York with 
further supplies, worth in all $100,000. 

" 15 — Gen. Terry, with a force of 9,000 men, aided by the fleet at 
that place, captures fort Fisher, on the coast of North Car- 
olina, after three days fighting. Gen. Whiting and Col. 
Lamb commanded the fort. "We took 1,800 prisoners ; killed 
and wounded 400 more; our loss was over 1,000 killed and 
wounded. This was a terrible blow to the enemy; it left 
them without a single port. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 495 

Jan. 15 — Edward Everett, a most distinguished scholar, statesman 
and orator, died at Boston, aged 71. 

" 16 — The magazine at fort Fisher exploded, and killed and 
wounded 300 of our troops. 

" 17 — The monitor Patapsco blown up and sunk by a torpedo in 
Charleston harbor ; 7 officers and 65 men went down with 
her. 

11 23 — The southern Gen. Hood formally takes leave of the south- 
ern army, having been succeeded by Gen. Taylor. 

" 28 — Gen. Breckenridge succeeds Mr. Seddon, as southern Sec- 
retary of "War. 

rt 29— A, H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter, and A. J. Campbell, ob- 
tain permission of Gen. Grant, at City Point, Va., to go to 
Portress Monroe, to try and negotiate a peace. 

n 31 — The House of Representatives passes the Senate joint reso- 
lution to amend the Constitution, so as to abolish slavery in 
the United States, by 119 to 56. 
Feb. 1 — Secretary Seward goes to fortress Monroe to meet the three 
southern commissioners. 

" 1 — The legislature of Illinois ratifies the emancipation amend- 
ment, just passed both houses of Congress. This was the 
first State to do so. 

11 2 — President Lincoln goes to fortress Monroe to meet the 
southern peace commissioners — but nothing was agreed on. 

11 2-3 — Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, 
Maryland and West Virginia all ratify the Constitutional 
amendment, and on the 7th, Maine and Missouri do the 
same : and, on the 8th, Ohio also. 

11 17 — Columbia, S. C, burnt accidentally. 

A paper dollar was worth but two cents in specie, in Rich- 
mond, Va. 

<( 18 — The Union troops enter Charleston this day, and take 450 
good cannon and the blockade runners Cyrene and Deer. 

M 18 — Gen. Lee writes a letter in favor of arming the slaves, say- 
ing the whites could not carry on the war alone. 

" 25 — Eight hundred southern soldiers came into our lines, all of 
whom had deserted during the last week. 
Mar. 1 — The Legislature of New "Jersey rejects the Constitutional 
amendment (the 14th). 

" 2 — Gen. Sheridan attacks Gen. Early between Staunton and 
"Waynesborough, Va., and completely routed him, captur- 
ing nearly 1,700 of his troops. 

11 4 — President Lincoln is inaugurated on his second term. 

" 9 — Vermont ratified' the fourteenth amendment of the U S. 
Constitution. 

" 14 — Gen. Sherman destroys the great arsenal, with much ma- 
chinery, at Fayetteville, N. C. 

" 16 — At this date it was estimated that more than 60,000 Union 
soldiers had been starvod to death in southern prisons. 



496 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Mar. 16 — The battle of Averysborough, between a portion of Sher- 
man's army, and confederate Gen. Hardee. Our loss was 
nearly 1,000 men. At night Hardee's troops ran away. 

11 18 — The confederate Congress adjourns sine die — never to meet 
again. One of its last acts was the passage of a law raising 
a negro force. 

»« 19 — Battle at Bentonsville, west of Goldsboro', N. C, between 
Gen. Johnston's infantry of 30,000 men, and Gen. Slocum's 
wing of Gen. Sherman's army. This battle lasted all day, 
but Slocum held the field. 

" 25 — The southern forces under Gen. Gordon attack and take fort 
Steadman, near Petersburgh, Va. ; but we soon retook it, 
capturing over 1,700 rebels, and defeated their whole force. 

" 28 — Gen. Grant's lines before Eichmond extended 39 miles, and 
well fortified all the way. 
At the close of this month we may make this general remark: 
Gen. Grant had lain with his army before Eichmond for a 
k»ng time, and now Gen. Sherman's army from the south 
had arrived, or was near at hand, and so had Gen. Sheri- 
dan's from the Shenandoah valley. Gen. Lee was hemmed 
in, and it was clearly seen that secession and rebellion must 
fail. 
April 1 — Gen. Sheridan's forces capture 6,000 men and fifteen guns 
to-day. 

ii 2 — The southern forces in the night at Eichmond blow up their 
forts and rams, preparatory to evacuating the city. 

li 2 — Gen. Lee evacuates Eichmond and Petersburgh, in conse- 
quence of an attack all along Gen. Grant's line. Lee re- 
treated westward, with his army demoralized. The power 
of the southern confederacy was gone, and our great civil 
war virtually finished. Jeff. Davis, his family, and some 
of his late cabinet, fled from Eichmond. 
The same day Gen. Wilson attacks Gen. Forrest, who held the 
defenses at Selma, Ala., with 7,000 troops ; they were routed 
after one hour's fight. "Wilson took the town, with 2,000 
prisoners, 100 guns, stores, &c. 

ii 3 — The Union troops, under Gen. "Weitzel, enter and take pos- 
session of Eichmond. On the same day the Union troops 
enter Petersburgh. When the enemy left Eichmond, they 
set fire to it, and burnt a large portion of the city. The 
Eichmond "Whig " quotes flour at $900 to $1,000 per bar- 
rel, corn at $100 per bushel, and butter at $20 per ft), in 
confederate money. 

" 4 — Gen. Grant pursues Gen. Lee. Lee lost 50,000 men in 
killed, wounded, deserters, &c. 

M 4 — Gen. Weitzel reports that he took in Eichmond 28 locomo- 
tives, 150 cars, 500 cannon, 5,000 stand of arms, with 1,000 
well, and 5,000 sick prisoners. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 497 

April 4 — Jeff. Davis issues a proclamation, from Danville, 28T. C, as- 
serting that the cause was not hopeless, and urges further 
resistance ! 
8 — A correspondence between Gens. Grant and Lee respecting 

the surrender of the southern army, is carried on to-day. 
8 — Gen. Canby's troops capture Spanish Fort, near Mobile, by 

assault, securing 25 officers, over 500 men, and 25 guns. 
8 — Gen. Lee surrenders his army to Gen. Grant. 

10 — Gen. Lee issues his farewell address to his army, congratu- 
lating them upon having faithfully discharged their duty to 
their country. 

10 — The southern forces evacuate Mobile. 

11 — The parolling of Lee's troops begins to-day. 

12 — Gen. Stoneman defeats the force defending Salisbury, N". C, 
and occupies the place, capturing and destroying 7,000 bales 
of cotton, with a million rounds of ammunition, and an 
arsenal. 

12 — Gen. Canby's troops enter Mobile without resistance. 

13 — The official report of Lee's surrender in men and property 
was stated at 26,115 men, 15,918 small arms, 159 cannon, 
1,100 wagons, and 4,000 horses. 

14 — President Lincoln assassinated by J. Wilkes Booth in 
Ford's Theatre. 

14 — One of Booth's confederates, by the name of Powell, gets 
into Mr. Seward's room, and stabs him while in bed. 

14 — Gen. Anderson, who, four years ago, was obliged to sur- 
render fort Sumter, to-day hoists the United States flag in 
the same place from which it had been lowered when it sur- 
rendered in 1851. 

15 — President Lincoln died at twenty-two minutes past seven 
this morning. 

15 — Andrew Johnson, the Vice President, sworn in as President. 

15 — The United States 7.30 bonds were yesterday and to-day 
subscribed for to the amount of over $9,000,000, such was 
the confidence in our government, notwithstanding the Pre- 
sident's death. 

16 — The whole country was in mourning for Lincoln's death, 
by every demonstration of sorrow which could be shown. 

18 — Paine, or Powell, who attempted to assassinate Secretary 
Seward, was arrested at Mrs. Surratt's house in Washing- 
ton. Mrs. S. was also arrested. 

18— Gen. Sherman agrees to a basis of peace with Gen. John- 
son, which was approved of by Jeff. Davis and Brecken- 
ridge. 

19 — Funeral ceremonies of President Lincoln are performed at 
Washington. 

21 — Lincoln's body lies in state in Baltimore. 

21 — Gen. Sherman's terms made with Johnson for peace wero 



498 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

disapproved by the cabinet, and he was ordered to resume 
hostilities. 
April 23 — The body of President Lincoln lies in state at Philadel- 
phia, and was visited by an immense concourse of people. 

(i 24 — It arrives in New York. 

1 24 — Gen. Grant arrives at Gen. Sherman's headquarters, when 
word was sent to Gen. Johnson that no civil matters could 
be treated of with him. 

!f 25 — Great military and civic procession in New York on the 
removal of Lincoln's remains westward. Some say there 
were 700,000 people upon the streets. 

" 25 — Booth, the assassin of Lincoln, and Harold, his confeder- 
ate, captured in a barn three miles from Port Royal, Va. 
Harold surrendered, but Booth refused to come out of the 
barn in which he was secreted, when sergeant Corbett (in 
violation of the orders of his superior officer) shot Booth in 
the neck, and he died four hours afterwards. Thus, by the 
over-zeal of a soldier, the gallows was cheated of its lawful 
due — for no assassin, in all history, had so little justification 
for murder as Booth had. 

11 26 — Gen. Johnson surrenders to Gen. Grant all the southern 
troops from Virginia to the Chattahoochee river, on the 
Earae terms granted to Gen. Lee. 

" 23 — The steamboat Sultana, with over 2,000 persons on board, 
mostly U. S. soldiers, blew up on the Mississippi river, near 
Memphis — not more than 700 of all these were saved. 

11 29 — The arms and military stores of Gen. Johnson's army are 
delivered up to the United States at Greensboro. 
May 2 — Reward offered for the arrest of Jeff. Davis, and others who 
were supposed to have been parties to the assassination of 
President Lincoln. 

M 3 — President Lincoln's remains arrived at his home, Spring- 
field, 111. 

11 4: — The southern Gen. Dick Taylor surrendered to Gen. Canby 
all the southern forces yet remaining west of the Mississippi 
river. 

11 9 — The southern Gen. Forrest disbanded his troops and advises 
them to go home peaceably. 

11 10 — The trial of President Lincoln's assassins commenced. 

41 10 — Jeff. Davis captured, dressed in woman's clothes, in Georgia, 
by Col Pritchard, of the fourth Michigan cavalry. 

" 13— Over $30,000,000 of the seven-thirty loan taken this day. 

" 21 — Hon. Jeremiah Clemens, ex-United States Senator from Ala- 
bama, died. 

" 30 — The great northwest sanitary fair opened at Chicago. 
June 1 — This day was observed as a day of national humiliation, on 
account of President Lincoln's death. 

1 4 — Robert Toombs, of Georgia, committed suicide to avoid 
arrest. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 499 

July 4 — The corner stone of the Gettysburg monument was laid to- 
day, amid appropriate ceremonies, and in presence of many 
distinguished persons. 
" 5 — The assassins of President Lincoln found guilty. Four of 

them were hanged the next day, or on the 7th inst. 
" 11 — Gen. Robt. E. Lee elected president of the Washington Col- 
lege, Va. 

Sept. 20 — Capt. James N. Moore reports having marked over 12,000 
graves of our prisoners, who died at Andersonville, Ga. 

Sept. 29— Osage Indians cede 1,000,000 acres of their lands for $300,- 
000. 

Oct. 20 — Champ Ferguson, one of the very worst of the guerillas 
during the war, was this day hanged at Nashville. 

Nov. 10 — Henry Wirz, keeper of the Andersonville prison, in Geor- 
gia, was executed to-day at "Washington. 

Dec. 18 — Secretary Seward formally announced the final extinction 
of slavery in the United States. This was of course the 
case, as soon as three- fourths of the States had adopted the 
fourteenth amendment of the Constitution, which had been, 
done j and Sec. Seward now notifies the world of the fact. 

1866. 

Jan. 1 — Emancipation celebration at Nashville. 

u 2 — Hon. Henry Winter Davis' funeral at Baltimore. 
tl 12 — Henry Clay's homestead sold to the Kentucky University. 
11 17-23— Slavery Constitutional amendment passed by the Leg- 
islature of New Jersey. Nearly all the other States had 

done this before now. But, 
" 25 — Kentucky rejected it. 
" 31 — Commissary and quartermaster's warehouses burnt at fort 

Riley, Kansas. Loss $1,000,000. 
Feb. 2 — Civil rights bill passed the Senate. 

" 11 — The IT. S. Sanitary Commission held its last anniversary, at 

Washington. 
" 12 — Memorial services in honor of President Lincoln held in 

the capitol ; address by Hon. Geo. Bancroft. 
11 19 — Acting President Johnson vetoed the freedman's bureau 

bill. 
*' 22 — The 134th anniversary of Washington's birth day celebrated 

at Washington. 
" 26 — Richmond meeting held to ratify President Johnson's policy. 
March 5 — Demoeratic convention in Pennsylvania nominated Heis- 

tcr Clymer for Governor. 
11 10 — North Carolina passed a negro rights bill, and two days 

after the negro testimony bill. 
u 12 — Texas State convention declared their secession ordinance 

null and void. 
«< 13 — Tho civil rights bill passed tho house, as amended. 



500 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

March 14 — It passed the Senate. 

u 19 — The reciprocity treaty with Canada expired this day. 

" 20 — Gen. Burnside nominated for Union Governor of Ehode 
Island. 

u 27 — The civil rights bill vetoed by President Johnson. 

This and the two preceding months were distinguished by 
great fires, and the destruction of both public and private 
property, amounting to many millions. 
April 2 — Gen. Hawley elected ^Republican Governor of Connecticut. 

" 4 — Gen. Burnside elected Governor of Khode Island. 

11 6 — Civil rights bill passed the Senate, over the veto, and, April 
9, passed the house in the same way. 

u 30 — Two churches of colored people burnt in Petersburg, Va., 
by incendiaries. 
May 15 — The President vetoes the bill admitting Colorado as a State. 

" 29— Lieut. Gen. Scott died at West Point. 
June 3 — Gen. Meade sent to Buffalo to prevent the Fenians from 
crossing into Canada. 

" G — The President issued a proclamation against the invasion of 
Canada. 

11 8 — The 14th amendment of the IT. S. Constitution passed the 
Senate, and, June 13, it passed the house. 
July 4— Tremendous fire at Portland, Me.; $15,000,000 burnt. "Wo 
notice this great fire because the U. S. government was a 
great loser by it. 

M 16 — The freedman's bureau bill vetoed b" ° ing President John- 
son. 

u 23 — Tennessee re-admitted by joint resolu r, of both houses of 
Congress. She was the first State re-a^^iitted after the re- 
bellion. 

" 25 — Lieut. Gen. Grant nominated general, and Yice Admiral 
Parragut to be admiral. 

" 27 — Hon. Mr. Harlan, Secretary of the Interior, resigns, and 
the President nominated O. H. Browning as his successor. 

11 28 — The Great Eastern arrives at Heart's Content with the At- 
lantic cable. Great rejoicings. 

" 30 — Great riot at New Orleans on the re-assembling of the 
State convention. Many negroes and whites were killed. 
Aug. 1 — Gen. Sherman commissioned as Lieutenant General. 

" 8 — Emma, dowager Queen of the Sandwich Islands, arrives at 
New York as a national guest. 

" 12 — Complete telegraphic communication between New York 
and Europe by the Atlantic cable. 

14 31 — American and English naval commanders destroy 22 Chi- 
nese piratical junks, besides killing and capturing many of 
the pirates. 
Sept. 6 — The monument to the memory of Stephen A. Douglas, at 
Chicago, inaugurated. It was the President's journey to 
attend this inauguration that was called his " swinging the 
circle" — a figure borrowed from one of his own speeches. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 501 

Oct. 9 — Gen. Geary elected Governor of Pennsylvania. 

" 23 — Dedication of the Stonewall Jackson cemetery at "Winches* 
ter, Va. 
Nov. 6 — State elections to-day in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, 
Wisconsin, Kansas, Nevada and New York. 

" 20 — /The Grand Army of the Republic hold a convention at In- 
dianapolis, Ind. 

u 22 — Raphael Semmes, of the Alabama, appointed professor of 
moral philosophy in the Louisiana State Seminary. 
Dec. 7 — The Louisiana Legislature rejects the fourteenth Constitu- 
tional amendment, as a number of the southern States had 
before done. 

" 13 — The Legislature of the Territory of Colorado organized. 

" 16 — The U. S. frigate New Ironsides burned at League Island. 

" 22 — Three officers and 90 soldiers massacred by Indians near fort 
Kearney. 

" 24 — U. S. minister John A. Dix presented to the Emperor Na- 
poleon. 

1867. 

Jan. 7 — District of Columbia suffrage bill vetoed by the President, 
and passed by the Senate over the veto. 
M 8 — The fourteenth Constitutional amendment ratified by Mis- 
souri, and on the 9th, rejected by Virginia — ratified by 
New York on the 10th. 
" 10 — The Territorial franchise bill passed, and " pocketed " by 

the President. 
" 28 — The Nebraska bill vetoed by the President, but subsequently 
passed over his veto. 
During this month the greater number of the northern States 
ratified the Constitutional amendment, while most of the 
southern States rejected it. 
Feb'y 20 — Military government bill passed by both houses. 
March 1 — Nebraska proclaimed a State by the President. 

it 2 — The President vetoes the military government bill ; also 
the civil tenure of office bill. Both, however, were re-passed 
over his vetoes. 
" 4 — The 39th Congress closed, and the 40th organized. 
" 11 — Military generals assigned to their various districts in the 

south. 
" 30 — The President announces the treaty with Russia by which 
the United States bought all her North American posses- 
sions for $7,200,000. 
April 3 — Gen. Burnside re-elected Governor of Rhode Island. 
May 13— Jefif. Davis admitted to bail in $100,000; Horace Gree- 
ley and others becoming his bondsmen, 
June 19 — The Arch-duke Maximillian shot by order of the Mexican 



502 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

government. We notice this to show how the French move- 
ment, which was inimical to the United States, ended. 

July 13 — The steam ram Dunderberg, having been bought by France, 
sailed for Cherbourg. 

August 1 — Gov. Brownlow re-elected Governor of Tennessee. 

" 5 — The President requests Sec. Stanton to resign his office, 
but Sec. Stanton would not do it, when the President sus- 
pended him, and appointed Gen. Grant Secretary of War 
ad interim. 
" 23 — Grand ovation to Admiral Farragut by Kussian officers 
at Cronstadt. 

Sept. 17 — The Antietam National Cemetery dedicated, with impos- 
ing ceremonies. 

Dec. 7 — The resolution to impeach President Johnson, voted down 
by 108 to 57, in the House ; that is, 108 were for impeach- 
ment, and 57 against it. A two-thirds'' vote was required to 
carry it, which would be 110. 

1868. 

Jan. 1 — Fourth emancipation anniversary celebrated in Richmond 
and Charleston. 

" 6 — Censure of the President by Congress for reinoving General 
Sheridan from his command of the 5th military district. 
Feb. 7 — The resignation of U. S. minister Adams announced in Lon- 
don. 

" 19— U. S. Senate refused to admit P. F. Thomas, of Maryland, 
to a seat on account of his disloyalty. 

11 20 — The New Jersey House concurs with the Senate in with- 
drawing its approval of the fourteenth amendment of the 
U. S. Constitution. 
The Legislatures of New Jersey, Ohio and Oregon each dis- 
tinguished themselves by this same act. 

" 21 — The President discharges Secretary Stanton, and appoints 
Gen. Lorenzo Thomas in his place. The Senate thereupon 
deny his power to do so. 

a 22 — Thaddeus Stephens reports resolutions to impeach the Presi- 
dent. 

" 24— The House resolve (126 to 57) that the President be im- 
peached. 
March 2 — New articles of impeachment adopted by the House. 

" 5 — The U. S. Senate organizes itself into a court of impeach- 
ment, with Chief Justice Chase at its head, for the trial of 
President Johnson. 
April 24 — Gen. Schofield nominated for Secretary of War by the 

President. 
May 16 — The President acquitted on the vote in the Senate for his 
impeachment — 35 votes for, to 19 against it. 

" 20 — The Republican convention at Chicago nominated General 
U. S. Grant for President. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 503 

May 22 — The Chinese embassy arrive at New York. 

u 29 — Gen. Schofield confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of 

War. 
June 1 — Grant and Colfax accept their nominations for President 

and Vice President. 
" 4 — John W. Forney resigned as secretary of the SenatG. 
" 6 — Hon. Anson Burlingame, and the Chinese embassy presented 

to the President. 
«< 6 — The Arkansas admission bill passes Congress. 
" 9 — Admission bills for the States of North Carolina, South 

Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida, pass 

the Senate. 
11 12 — Senator Reverdy Johnson confirmed as minister to England. 
m 20 — The Arkansas admission bill vetoed by the President, and 

passed over his veto. 
" 24 — The President also vetoed the southern States admission 

bill, which was disposed of in the same way. 
July 4 — Horatio Seymour, of New York, nominated for President 

by the Democratic convention held in Tammany Hall, N. 

Y. city, and Francis P. Blair, of Mo., for Vice President. 
" 4 — General political amnesty proclamation issued by President 

Johnson. 
11 11 — Ratification of the fourteenth amendment by North Caro- 
lina and Florida, proclaimed by the President. 
11 16 — Admiral Farragut and officers entertained by the Queen of 

England. 
" 20 — Bill to exclude the electoral votes of the non-organized 

States, vetoed by the President, and re-passed by Congress. 
" 21 — Congress declares the fourteenth amendment ratified. 
" 28 — Naturalization treaty with Hesse concluded. 
" 28 — Proclamation by the Secretary of State that the fourteenth 

amendment of the Constitution of the United States had 

been ratified by three-fourths of the States. 
"28 — Military government ceases in Arkansas, North Carolina, 

South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida and Alabama. 

Aug. 6 — Jeff. Davis arrives at Liverpool. 

" 13 — The U. S. steamers Wateree and Fredonia lost by the terru 
ble earthquake in Peru. By this earthquake 40,000 lives 
are supposed to have been lost. 
Sept. 1 — Vermont State election. Gov. Page (Rep.) re-elected. 

" 2 — Negro members of the Georgia Legislature expelled on ac- 
count of color. 

M 14 — Maine State election. Gov. Chamberlain (Rep.) re-elected. 

11 48 — Battle with Indians near Republican river. Lieut. Beecher 
and Dr. Moore killed. 

" 19 — Serious political riots at Camilla, Geo., and many colored 
persons killed and wounded. 

» 21 — Congress met and adjourned to Oct. 16. 



504 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

Sept. 29 — Gen. Reynolds issues an order prohibiting the election on 
the 3d of Nov. in Texas, for President and Vice President. 
Oct. 13 — State elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Ne- 
braska. Republicans victorious in all these States. 
" 17 — The Oregon Legislature withdraws its assent to the four- 
teenth Constitutional amendment. 
Nov. 3 — Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax elected for Pres- 
ident and Vice President of the United States by 309,722 
majority of the popular vote. 
__ The whole popular vote for President in 1868, was 5,722,984, 

but the vote of Nevada is only estimated, while Virginia, 
Mississippi and Texas did not vote at all. Florida chose 
her Presidential electors by her Legislature. The electoral 
vote was ; For Grant and Colfax, 214 ; Seymour and Blair, 
80. 
" 27 — Black Kettle's band of Indians defeated by Gen. Custer on 
Washita river. The chief and over 100 of his warriors 
killed. 
Dec. 1 — Port LaFayette, in New York, destroyed by fire. 
" 3 — Political murders continue in the State of Arkansas. 
*< 7 — The third session of the 40th Congress commences. 
" 15 — A re-union, at Chicago, of all the Union armies of the late 

war. 
« 25 — General proclamation of amnesty issued by the President. 
This might be called a kind of " winding up " of the great 
rebellion. 

1869. % 

Jan. 7 — John Minor Bdtts, a distinguished statesman of Va., died. 
Feb. 19 — An assay office was established, by Act of Congress, in the 

territory of Idaho. 
Feb. 27 — By joint resolution of Congress, the Fifteenth Amendment 

to the Constitution of the United States was recommended 

to the several States for adoption. 
March 4 — Ulysses S. Grant was inaugurated the eighteenth President 

of the United States, and Schuyler Colfax, Vice President. 
" 4 — The first regular session of the 41st Congress met. 
" 13 — James Guthrie, an eminent statesman and U. S. Senator 

of Kentucky, died. 
" 25 — Edward Bates, of Missouri, who was Attorney General 

under Mr. Lincoln, died. 
July 30 — Isaac Toucy, of Connecticut, died. He had been Governor 

of his State, U. S. Senator and Secretary of "War, and also 

Attorney General of the United States. 
Sept. 8 — Wm. Pitt Fessenden, U. S. Senator of Me., and Secretary 

of the Treasury, (1864-5,) died, 
i " 10 — John Bell, a distinguished statesman of Tennessee, and 

candidate for the Presidency in 1860, died. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 505 

Sept. 6 — John A. Rawlins died, while holding the office of Secretary 

of "War. 
Oct. 8 — Franklin Pierce, ex-President of the United States, died. 
" 16 — Joseph Kitner, ex-Governor of Pennsylvania, died. 
" 31 — Charles A. Wickliif, of Ky., ex-Postmaster General, died. 
Nov. 7 — Charles Stewart, Rear-Admiral in the U. S. Navy, died, 
aged 91. Had been in the Navv 70 years. 
" 10— Maj. Gen. Wool, of the United' States Army, died at Troy, 

N. Y., aged 89. 
11 11 — Robert J. Walker, of Miss., ex-Sec'y of the Treasury, died. 
" 12 — Amos Kendall, ex-Postmaster General, died. 
Dec. 24 — Edwin M. Stanton, a very distinguished statesman of Pa., 
died. He had been Attorney General and Secretary of War, 
and Judge of the U. S. Supreme Court. 



506 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 



The Public Debt. 

The public debt of any country is a very important 
matter to all the people of that country, for they must 
pay it — some more, some less, according (if the taxes 
are impartially assessed) to their respective ability to 
bear the burthen. 

The public debt of the United States, at the present 
time, (owing to our recent civil war,) is enormous — 
greater, we hope, than it ever will be again. It is now, 
(May, 1870,) as shown by official statements, $2,509,- 
270,608 — which, estimating our population at forty 
millions, (considered very near the actual number,) 
gives $62.73 as the proportion of each person in the 
nation. But $64,457,320 of this indebtedness consists 
of United States bonds, issued to the Pacific Rail Road 
Companies, which those companies owe to the gov- 
ernment. This being deducted, leaves $2,444,813,288 
as the real debt to be paid by the people. 

For the purpose of showing what the debt was at 
each year, and to show how it has varied from time to 
time since 1791, (two years after the government was 
established,) we give the amount as it stood on the 1st 
day of January in each year, from 1791 to 1842. After 
this time the 1st day of July is the date at which the 
statement was generally made, and, in $, few cases, it 
w r as given at other dates. 

This tabular view of our national indebtedness forms 
an interesting subject for examination to every one who 
takes an interest in public affairs. 



THE PUBLIC DEBT.' 507 

PUBLIC DEBT OF THE UJSTITED STATES, 

In Each Year, from 1791 to 1870. 

1791...75,463,476.52 1818... 103,466,683.83 1845 17,093,794.80 

1792. ..77,227,924.66 1819... 95,529,648.28 1846 16,750,926.33 

1793....80,352, 634.04 1820... 91,015,566.15 1847 38,956,623.38 

1794.. .78,427,404.77 1821... 89,987,427.66 1848 48,526,379.37 

1795.. .80,747,587.38 1822... 93,546,676.98 1849 64,704,693.71 

1796. ..83,762,172.07 1823... 90,875,877.28 1850 64,228,238.37 

1797. ..82,064,479.33 1024... 90,269,777.77 1851 62,560,395.26 

1798. ..79,228,529.12 1825... 83,788,432.71 1852 65,131,692.13 

1799... 78,408,669.77 1826.... 81,054,059.99 1853 67,340,628.78 

1800.. .82,976,294.35 1827... 73,987,357.20 1854 47,242,206.05 

1801. ..83,038,050.80 1028.... 67,475,043.87 1855 39,969,731.05 

1802....80,712,632.25 1829... 58,421,413.67 1856 30,963,909.64 

1803... 77,054,686.30 1830.... 48,565,406.50 1857 29,060,386 90 

1804... 86,427,120.88 1831... 39,123,191.68 1858 44,910,777.66 

1805....82,312,150.50 1832... 24,322,235.18 1859 58,754,699.33 

1806... 75,723,270.66 1833... 7,001,032.88 1860 64,769,703.08 

1807....69,218,398.64 1834... 4,760,081.08 1861 90,867,828.68 

1808. ..65,196,317.97 1835... 351,289.05 1862 514,211,371.92 

1809. ..57,023, 192.09 1836... 291,089.05 1863...1,098,793,181.37 

1810... 53,173,217,52 1837... 1,878,223.55 1864... 1,740,690,489.49 

1811. ..48,005,587.76 1838... 4,857,660.46 1865...2,682,598,026.53 

1812. ..45,209,737. 90 1839... 11,983,737.53 1866...2,783,425,879.21 

1813...55,962,827.57 1840.... 5,125,077.63 1867...2,692,199,215.12 

1814...81,487,846.24 1841.... 6,737,398.00 1868.. 2,643,753,566.38 

1815....99,833,660.15 1842.... 15,028,486.37 1869.. 2,652,533,662.28 

1816..127,334,933.74 1843.... 27,203,450.69 1870.. 2,509,270.608.00 

1817..123,491,965.16 1844... 24,748,188.23 



The following description of the evidences of our 
national indebtedness, will be interesting to some of 
our readers : 

When the government borrows money, it must give 
the lender some evidence of its indebtedness, contain- 
ing a promise to pay it at some future time. These 
documents are generally called "bonds," — United 
States bonds — and bear different names, according to 
the rate of interest they draw, or according to the time 



508 OUTLINES OF U. S. GOVERNMENT. 

they run before the government is obliged to pay them. 
For example — 

United States Sixes means the bonds which draw 6 
per cent, interest. 

United States Fives or Sevens, those which draw 5 or 
7 per cent, interest. 

Seven- Thirties, those on which the government pays 
7.30 per cent, interest. These were issued during the 
late civil war. 

Other bonds, as before stated, derive their names 
from the time they have to run before they become 
payable, some bearing a higher and some a lower rate 
of interest. For example — 

Five Twenties, so called because it is optional with 
the government whether it will pay them at the end of 
5 or 20 years. These mostly bear 6 per cent., and 
were issued from 1862 to 1868, inclusive. They may 
be redeemed in 5 years, but must be within 20 years. 

Ten Forties, redeemable in 10 years, and payable in 
40 years from the date of issue, viz : 1864. 

Pacific Rail-Road Bonds to the amount of $64,000,- 
000, were issued by the TJ. S. government to assist the 
companies which constructed that road. Their name 
requires no explanation. They were issued in 1865 
and after, and have 30 years to run. 

But there are other evidences of the indebtedness of 
the United States besides the above named bonds ; 
these are ' treasury notes," " gold certificates," ''three 
per cent, certificates," " United States notes," (green- 
backs,) and the " fractional currency," (bills less than 
one dollar). All these the government must redeem 
at some future day. 



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Queen Victoria's Journal, 

He-printed from the English Edition, 
PART I. 

CONTAINING THE EAKLY YEAES OF HIS EOYAL 

HIGHNESS THE PKINCE CONSOKT. 
Compiled under the direction of Her Majesty the Queen of England. 

PART II. 

OUR LIFE m THE HIGHLANDS. 

Giving an account of the Queen's Visits to Scotland, and Tours in 
England and Ireland, and Yachting Excursions. 

O 

ggj^The remarkable interest of this unique volume is not very 
etrange when all the circumstances are taken into consideration. It 
discloses, in a pure, womanly way, and with the most charming nai- 
vete, the inner thoughts of one of the most illustrious beings of 
earth. It draws the curtain, and lets us peep into the secret dwell- 
ing place of domestic bliss, and speaks so naturally of men and 
things, of scenes and incidents, of hopes and fears, and of love, ma- 
ternal affection and happiness, that no one can read it without hav- 
ing a better estimate of life, and becoming better, holier and happier. 
It should be placed in every family. 

The whole is published in one elegant volume of 

625 pages, printed from new plates, on fine paper, and illustrated 
with beautiful photographs of Queen Victoria and the Prince Con- 
sort, and is furnished to subscribers in neat and substantial binding, 
payable on delivery at the following low prices : 

In English cloth, plain edges, $2.00. 

" gilt " 2.50. 

Pine Parlor Editiora^jn Frencli Turkey morocco, 

with gilt edges, 3.00. 

PARMELEE & CO., 

Philadelphia, Pa. 
Agents wanted. Address Publishers. (8) 



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